A name that pierces right through you. For an area to contain “angel” in its name is rare in itself, but to be described as being pierced? Now that is something else. Where would a name like this come from?

Actually, nearby there is a shrine called Gojōten Shrine, which has been affectionately referred to by the Japanese as “Tenshi” or “angel” for years. During the Edo period, Hideyoshi Toyotomi ordered a large scale renovation of Kyoto, which included the creation of one large main street. However, in the middle of this imagined road was Gojōten Shrine.

The local people were outraged. “How dare he try to destroyed the grounds where our precious angel lies!” However, there was no way they could disobey the orders of the most powerful man in Japan at the time. So instead, as a sort of ironic revenge, they started to call the area the “Angel Piercer.” “Just you wait, Hideyoshi” they would grumble, “You’ll get your punishment one day.”