o-rosoku

Updated: May 6, 2025

And here, from time to time, if you will watch, you will probably see more than one handsome girl, with brightly painted lips and the beautiful antique attire that no maiden or wife may wear, come to the foot of the steps, toss a coin into the money-box at the door, and call out: 'O-rosoku! which means 'an honourable candle. Immediately, from an inner chamber, some old man will enter the shrine-room with a lighted candle, stick it upon a nail-point in the lantern, and then retire.

Lafcadio Hearn - Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan : First Series