Shiho yori
Hana fuki irete
Nio-no-umi.
—Basho
From all directions
Cherry blossoms blow upon
Two-Deva-Kings-Lake.
This lake, better known as Lake Biwa or Omi Lake, is the largest
fresh water body in Japan; the thousands of cherry trees growing
on its shores are a marvelously beautiful sight when they are in
full flower. The Two Deva Kings (nio), Indra and Brahma, are
important Hindu deities whose enormous statues are often to be
found to the right and left of the gates of Buddhist temples, to
guard them against demons.