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Intermediate Japanese - Free Online Course
ENNICHI
縁日
festival day
An ennichi is a day dedicated to a particular Shinto or Buddhist deity. For example, the 18th of every month is devoted to Kannon 観音(the goddess of mercy”). The 24th is the day of Jizō 地蔵 (the patron god of children). This is a day for the faithful to visit a shrine or a temple to pray or leave offerings.
Despite their religious significance, the ennichi often take on a carnival-like atmosphere. Vendors and hawkers set up stalls around the shrines and temples, selling amulets, souvenirs, and snacks.
En no shita no chikara-mochi
縁の下の力持ち
“the powerful person under the floor”
In traditional Japanese homes, the en is the space between the floorboards and the ground. A chikara-mochi is a person who holds power. Therefore, the expression en no shita no chikara-mochi presents the image of a powerful person laboring away, unseen by others.
Japanese companies have many employees who willingly take on the role of the en no shita no chikara-mochi. In a corporate environment where teamwork is emphasized over personal glory, these employees make extraordinary efforts without the need for explicit recognition.