"Tobiume" (flying plum) Long ago Michizane Sugawara (845-903) lived in Kyoto. But he was punished and sent to Kyushu. Michizane missed his favorite plum tree in the garden of his Kyoto residence and wrote a poem (waka) about it when he left Kyoto for Kyushu. The song about him missing his plum tree symbolized that he was missing all the things he had to leave behind in Kyoto. Kochifukaba 5 syllables nioiokoseyo 7 syllables umenohana. 5 syllables Arujinashitote 7 syllables harunawasureso 7 syllables The meaning is as follows: If the wind blows from the east (from Kyoto, the capital), dear plum flower, please remember your master (Michizane himself) and send the smell of plums over the wind to Kyushu. Even though your master is not in Kyoto, please do not forget to bloom in spring. The plum tree flew from Kyoto to Kyushu in only one night after his death in Kyushu. "Tobiume" (flying plum) is based on this legend. There are some souvenir shops around Kameido Tenjin Shrine. One shop sell "Gokakuume" (pickled plum) that is connected with the legend of "Tobiume" and the fact that Michizane loved plums during his lifetime.