The Secret of Akihabara & Moe Otaku
This text was mirrored from its original location at http://blog.livedoor.jp/you_rari/archives/50592008.html to help ensure its preservation in the case of possible server loss.
This is an icon of “Arahabaki”.
Arahabaki is a god who has shape to deform the woman.
Arahabaki was believed in from ancient times to the people in Japan as a god who prevented the disaster and reflected the curse.
As for the history of Arahabaki belief,
The icon of Arahabaki made 3000 years or more ago exists.
Arahabaki belief existed in every region of Japan until Edo period of the 19th end of the century.
However, this belief was suppressed to the government that implement modernization campaign,and declined at the Meiji era.
But, arahabaki was secretly believed in among the people.
And, a center place of this secret belief is “Akihabara”.
“A-ki-ha-ba-ra” is a name of a place to permute the character of “A-ra-ha-ba-ki”.
The icon of “Arahabaki” was not able to have been done publicly in the age when its belief was suppressed.
Therefore, its believers made a figurine of female as taking the place of the icon.
To escape from the suppression of the government, these figurines were treated as a souvenir. This is an origin of “Moe Figure”.
To know the etymology of the word “Moe” here,
I introduce the song of the ceremony that worships Arahabaki.
In this ceremony,its believers form a ring around the fire and this song is sung.
(It is prohibited to record because this song is hymn.)
The following are English translations of this lyrics.
We honor the god in the heaven.
The god shows up by the shining appearance.
(Chorus: moe- moe- otaku)1)
We salute the god by three holy signs.2))
Heaven's truth is superior to one,two,three.3)
(Chorus: moe- moe- otaku)
The God doesn't punish our father and mother's sins.
Lord leads us to the heaven.
(Chorus: moe- moe- otaku)
Arahabaki is being believed in by people who live still in Akihabara.
its icon is enshrined in household altars in the shop and the house in Akihabara.
However, even if you go to Akihabara, the icon of Arahabaki will be able rarely to be seen.
Because,people in Akihabara do not like to expose it to the public notice.
But, the icon is open to the public at the holy day of Arahabaki once in one year.
The day is today.
Therefore, I am introducing “Arahabaki” to people in the country other than Japan.
So,today is April 1.
And, “Otaku” is one of the pronouns that mean “You” in Japanese.
(“Otaku” is not a meaning of anime fan here.)
In a word, this chorus says, “You burn”. And this chorus is calling to “You” in the fire.
Does “You” indicate the god, or…?
And, the last one doesn't transmit until the present age, and be assumed to be a mystery.
However, the last one is transmitted secretly of “Arahabaki” belief, and there is the theory that it is a woman sacrifice.
According to the theory of Dr. Kibayashi in MMR (Mizuho Mechanical Research institute).
The cause from which this belief was prohibited by the government was in this sacrifice custom.
And, its believers were worshiping the figurine to imitate sacrifice women making it.
it came to call a figurine of sacrifice “moe figure”.
(“Figure” was a word that began to be used in recent years,
and the word that meant the doll in Japanese “NINGYOU” had been used in old times.
Surprisingly,in the Arahabaki belief, the concept of dimension existed from of old.
