23. A Command to Stop Working in the Fields

It is written that between 1882 and 1887 Izo did farming and forestry work and for these five years, he never had the luxury to sit and relax at a meal but ate his meals standing near the oven. But according to Yosaburo Miyamori (1857–1936):

“The Residence was not a busy place as it is now. So when Izo first moved to Jiba, it was not like he had a set schedule of tasks to do each day. He would help out when we went out into the fields. He also helped to dig ditches and plow the rice fields.

“But one day, when Izo was doing farm work as he usually did, he suffered from a sudden case of diarrhea. When he went to Oyasama to inquire the divine will, She said,

There is no need for you to do such things any longer.

“So Izo stopped doing farm work thereafter. It is possible to surmise that God expressed this since Izo was to become the Honseki.”

(Adapted from Shinpan Izo Iburi den p. 85 and Ten no jogi pp. 51–52)

• Next installment in this series: 24. Oyasama’s Protection after the Service for Rain

*Note: This post has been revised since its original publication.