Japan - Shrines and Temples: - - Yama no Kami

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20/07/2019

Kawanokami legends

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. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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kawa no kami 川の神と伝説 Legends about the "River Deity"

Kappa 河童 is a“Kawa no Kami” 川の神 / 河の神 (lit. River Deity)
. Kawa no Kami, 水神 Suijin and Kappa .
- Introduction -
Kappa カッパ is often seen as Kawanokami or Mizunokami.

. Mizu no Kami, Mizunokami 水の神 Deity of Water .

- quote -
Kappa
mentioned in the Nihon Shoki 日本書紀 (Chronicles of Japan), one of Japan's earliest official records, compiled around 720 AD.
Other names: Kahaku (Nihongi)
A generic name for kami of rivers and streams.
The lineage of this kami is not described in the classics. Nihongi's record of Emperor Nintoku's reign contains an anecdote regarding the offering of human sacrifices (hitobashira) to the river deity called "Lord of the River" (Jp. kahaku; Ch. Hebo) at the occasion of constructing a riverbank, and Nihongi's record of Empress Kōgyoku likewise notes that during a great drought, prayers were offered without effect to the "Lord of the River." The Man'yōshū includes poems indicating that the river kami serves the emperor, and numerous records from the Nara period reflect the offering of prayers to the kami of famous mountains and great rivers.
- reference source : Kokugakuin - Nakayama Kaoru -

CLICK for more photos !

kahaku, kawa no kami 河伯 River Deity, "river chief"
Kahaku Shushin 河伯主神

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

. ryuujin 竜神 /龍神と伝説 Ryujin, Legends about the Dragon Deity .
Kawanokami is often seen as the same as the Ryujin Dragon Deity.
When he is offshore in the sea his wave pattern can sometimes be seen. In that case the fishermen sit down and pray to the deity.

......................................................................................... Akita 秋田県
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山本郡 Yamamoto district 二ツ井町 Futatsui town

Once upon a time, there was a year with not enough rain and water, people say the Kappa has come out and eaten all the cucumbers.
Since then farmers take the first two cucumbers of the harvest and throw it into the river shouting:
"川の神 Kawanokami, this is our offering!"

......................................................................................... Chiba 千葉県
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夷隅郡 Isumi district 夷隅町 Isumi town

Kappa is seen as Mizunokami, Kawanokami and an incarnation of a dragon deity.
If children are drowning in a river, this is the malicious deed of Kappa.

......................................................................................... Hyogo 兵庫県
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豊岡市 Toyooka city 竹野町 Takeno town

kawasoso, kawa soso 川ソソ Kamakami is called Kawasoso
He usually suppresses the Kappa 川コ Kawako, but lets him go on the last day of the sixth lunar month.
If someone goes into the river on this day, Kawako will take out his inner organs through the anus. He uses some iron tools to do that.

......................................................................................... Iwate 岩手県

Before peeing into a river, people ask Kawanokami to forgive them, to avoid his wrath.

......................................................................................... Kagoshima 鹿児島県

. Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain .
and Kawanokami, Kappa legends

......................................................................................... Kumamoto 熊本県
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熊本市 Kumamoto city

Kawanokami no tatari 川の神の祟　the curse of Kawanokami
Once there lived a man in the city called 平川円蔵 Hirakawa Enzo.
One he went to the local shrine and went to cut down the shinboku 神木 sacred tree, saying it was superstition not to cut such a tree.
Soon his wife became bewitched by the Kawanokami from the river 球磨川 Kumagawa and many strange things happened.

. shinboku 神木, shinju　神樹　sacred tree, divine tree .

......................................................................................... Nagasaki 長崎県
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On the 29th day of the 11th lunar month, Kawanokami comes walking along the road.
There is a strange noise like hyuuhyuu heard along the side of the pond.
It looks like a chidori 千鳥 plover with a long, red beek.
Sometimes it more looks like a man with a high hat, followed by many others. If people try to peek at the procession to see it clearly, it becomes invisible.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

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- Reference : 川の神

. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- - - - -　 H A I K U　 - - - - -

焼米を炒るや川の神見そなはす

長谷川零餘子 Hasegawa Reiyoshi (1886 - 1928)

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- #kawanokami #rivergod #riverdeity #flussgott #mizunokami #kappa #yamanokami -
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12/07/2019

Fuku no Kami legends

- quote -
The god of happiness, represented in kyogen 狂言 plays by a masked figure kyogenmen 狂言面.
Fuku-no-kami always has a jovial, laughing expression like that of Ebisu 恵比須, and he is often portrayed using the ebisu mask. There are some masks specifically used for fuku-no-kami, whose features are carved with taut outlines indicating youth and refinement. This mask is used to play the central role in the kyogen play called FUKU-NO-KAMI 福の神.
- source : JAANUS -

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- His opponent is
. Binbogami 貧乏神 / ビンボウノカミ Bimbogami, Deity of Poverty .

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.......................................................................　Aichi 愛知県 .....

ibohikida いぼひきだ a monster toad with warts
This toad-monster used black magic. Others say he is Fukunokami and if he lives below the veranda people should not tease or anger him.

. hikigaeru 蟇蛙 Legends about the toad, Bufo vulgaris .

source : Okinawa China School

.......................................................................　Aomori 青森県 .....
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. ushi 牛と伝説 Legends about ox, bull, cow . . .
Once a villager got up early in the morning and saw two cows from his home walking to the neighbours house.
The man thought that Fukunokami must be living there and indeed, the neighbour became rich and prosperous.
His own family became extinct.

.......................................................................　Chiba 千葉県 .....
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山武郡 Sanbu district

Ebisu sama エビス様　Honorable Ebisu
During the New Year, Ebisu walks around the area. To let him have some money, people put out an offering of a square wooden box filled with coins.
Ebisu is also called Ie no Kami 家の神 Kami of the Family.

. Ebisu 恵比寿 and Daikoku 大黒 .

.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....
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南宇和郡 Minami-Uwa district 愛南町 Ainan town

Before drawing wakamizu 若水 the first water of the year, people light the water surface with taimatsu 松明 a torch.
In former times they could see Fuku no Kami in the water.

. wakamizu　若水 first drawing of water, "young water" .
drawing the first water of the year at the double-hour of the tiger (tora no koku 寅の刻, from four to six in the morning) ...

.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
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南会津郡 Minami-Aizu district 南郷村 Nango village

Binbogami 貧乏神
Once a man heard footsteps at night and went out to have a look, there was a boozu 坊主 priest and he asked him:
"Where are you going?"
He replied "貧乏神 Binbogami" and the man was fast to repeat "Binbogami".
Later the priest came back again. This time he was invited into the home with great hospitality and became the Fuku no Kami of the family.

.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....
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高崎市 Takasaki city 吉井町 Yoshii town

If one blows the flute in the morning, Fuku no Kami will not come.

.......................................................................　Ibaraki 茨城県 .....
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行方郡 Namegata district 麻生町 Aso town

. Setsubun - oni wa soto 鬼は外 "Demons, get out!"　.
On the day of Setsubun 節分 the Seasonal Divide people make special offerings, especially of hiiragi柊 a holly branch and put them on butsudan 仏壇 the Buddhist family altar, the kamidana 神棚 shelf of the Gods, for the 井戸の神 Ido no Kami and other places to make sure, the demons do not come in.
The offerings of iwashi イワシ are eaten by fuku no kami 福の神 the God of Good Luck.

. oni to hiiragi 鬼と柊 Demon and the Holly branch .

. Ido no Kami 井戸の神 / Idogami 井戸神 Deity of the Well .

.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....

. Fukunokami and Binbogami .

.......................................................................　Miyagi 宮城県 .....

If one taps on the side of the fireplace or beats a drum in the middle of the night, 貧乏神 Binbogami feels happy.
If one blows a flute in the house, Binbogami will come and Fuku no Kami will flee.
If one sings in the morning while still in bed, Binbogami will come.

.......................................................................　Nagano 長野県 .....
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南佐久郡 Minami-Saku district 川上村 Kawakami village

If one tries to heat an empty water pot or hits the handle of the pan, Fuku no Kami will flee.
If one lights a fire for no purpose, 荒神 Aragami sama will send divine punishment.

. Aragami 荒神と伝説 Legends about the Aragami deity .
荒神様 Kojin sama, "rough god", "wild deity" - Hearth deity

.......................................................................　Nagasaki 長崎県 .....
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西海市 Saikai city 西彼町（せいひちょう） Seibi

On the first day of the New Year Fukunokami is walking around, so people have to hide metal things and money.

.......................................................................　Niigata 新潟県 .....
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南蒲原郡 Minami-Kanbara district

If someone hits the bottom of the masu 桝 square wooden box used to measure rice, Fukunokami will run away.

masu with 大黒天 Daikoku the God of Good Luck

. masu 升 / 桝 measuring box .

.......................................................................　Okayama 岡山県 .....
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真庭市 Maniwa town 鹿田 Shikata

. Marishiten 摩利支天 Marishi Ten .
In 落合町 Ochiai town many families venerate Marishi Ten in the home.
In 鹿田の陽堂 Shikata village they venerate him on a great rock in front of the house as Fukunokami.

.......................................................................　Shiga 滋賀県 .....
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高島市 Takashima city

In people let pieces of a matsu no ki 松の木 pine tree smolder in the irori 囲炉裏 open hearth, Fukunokami can use the smoke to come down and bring good luck.

. irori 囲炉裏 / 居炉裏 / いろり open sunken hearth .

.......................................................................　Yamaguchi 山口県 .....
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豊浦郡 Toyoura district 豊田町 Toyota (Toyoda)

Someone said Fuku no Kami had been here and put a mountain of gold on the roots of kaki no ki 柿ノ木 the persimmon tree.
But the man was too afraid to go out and have a look and did not get any.

. Legends about 柿ノ木 the Persimmon Tree .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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- #fukunokami #godofgoodluck #fukusuke -
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10/07/2019

Toshitokujin legends

. Toshitokujin 歳徳神 God of the Year.
- Introduction and Haiku -

. shinnen 新年 the New Year .
The New Year of the Gregorian calendar falls on 1 January.

. The Asian Lunar Calendar and its seasons .
spring begins, February 4, risshun 立春
summer begins, May 6, rikka　立夏
autumn begins, August 8, risshuu　立秋
winter begins, November 7, rittoo　立冬

. kamidana 神棚　household Shinto altar, "shelf for the Gods" .
- A special one is often set up for the New Year celebrations.

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. Sai no Kami 幸神 / 幸の神 / さいの神 / サイノカミ
Deity of Fortune and Good Luck .
toshi no kami 歳の神 Deity of the Year (another name for Sai no Kami).

u no hi, unohi 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit
collecting legends

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Toshigamidana 年神棚 Shelf to venerate the Toshigami
Article by 榎戸貞治郎 Enokido Sadajiro

Also called
Toshitokudana 年徳棚
Ehodana 恵方（えほう）棚
The shelf is set up in the direction (eho) of the Deity of the Year.
If people do not have place for a shelf, they celebrate and make offerings in the 床の間 Tokonoma
or at the normal 神棚 Kamidana of the family.

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

3自然を読む民俗：山口県 - 内日の五年神
Yamaguchi, Utsui - Gonengami
吉村美広 Yoshimura Mihiro

If the villagers forget this ritual of every five years, monkeys comes from the mountains to remind them
at 赤田代 Akatashiro.
氏子が集まって、神事を何年目毎にしようかと相談していたところ、五年神は耳が遠く、「１２…５年目毎？」と聞き返してきたので、祟られると恐ろしいので５年目毎にいとなむようになった。
- 五年神神事下関・秋吉台・宇部エリア = Yama no Kami
５年毎の１１月初申の日に行われる山の神の祭りで、神の森は、村落のすぐ裏にあり、神聖不可侵とされています。
トリモチの巨木が御神体で、根元に１個の壷が置かれ、石の蓋がされてます。
全国に伝わる山の神では、オコゼを供える例が多く、これは山の神がことのほかみにくい容ぼうで、世の中に自分よりみにくいものがあるといってよろこぶからといわれていますが、ここはドロバエ（コイ科の淡水魚）で、山の神の供え物としては珍しいといえます。
- reference source : oidemase.or.jp/tourism... -

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.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....
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choochin no yoo na hi 提灯のような火 a fire like a lantern
Late at night on the last day of the year, behind the sanctuary for Ujigami there was a light coming down and a strange sound was heard.
The elders of the village say this is the time when Toshitokujin comes down for the New Year.

. ujigami　氏神 clan KAMI deities .

.......................................................................　Fukui 福井県 .....

Tenjinsama 天神様 Tenjin Sama
The Kami of the Skay, as espressed in 天神地衹 Tenshin Chigi.
During the New Year he comes down from the Sky and becomes 年神 Toshigami.

- quote -
神祇 Jingi, 天神地祇 Tenshin Chigi
An appellation for the objects of worship in Shinto.
An honorific term extolling the sacred authority and sublime virtue of spiritual beings.
- source : kokugakuin -

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kamigami no toshitori 神々のトシトリ New Year for the Gods
Different Kami have different days to start a new year:
お地蔵様 O-Jizo sama on the 23 and 天神様 Tenjin sama on the 25th.
. Aomori 青森県 - Yama no Kami .

.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
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福島市 Fukushima city 中茂庭 Nakamoniwa

Toshigami sama 年神様
comes down on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. He is venerated at the Shrine Tensho Kodai Jingu 天照皇太神宮 Tenshokodai Jingu.

- reference : Tenshokodai Jingu -

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Fukushima いわき市 Iwaki

Shogatsu Sama 正月様 comes in Spring, according to the lunar calendar on the 15th day of the first lunar month. People make a small fire and on the smoke the Deity rides to heaven. Sometimes they are two, takasago 高砂 an old couple as an auspicious sight.
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Fukushima 須賀川市 Sukagawa city

O-Shogatsu Sama お正月様 is a woman. Since she did not marry, she is happy if young men come to get wakamizu 若水 the first water of the year.

On January 8 people make an offering of azukigayu あずきがゆ rice gruel with small soy beans to see the Deity off. In former times it was the 15th of January, when the offerings contained some white rice gruel. But as the farmers got poor, they could not afford this and used small soy beans.

.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....
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邑楽郡 Ora district 大泉町 Oizumi town

Toshigami Sama 年神様
comes on the day 卯の日 U no Hi to supervise taue 田植え the planting of the fields.

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Gunma 館林市 Tatebayashi city 下早川田 Shimo-Sagawada

When planting rice seedlings on u no hi 卯の日 the day of the rabbit, Toshitokugami comes down on 卯の刻 the hour of the rabbit.

.......................................................................　Hiroshima 広島県 .....

. Toshitoku san トシトクさん - Tanokami and the wild boar .
He comes on the day of Inoko Wild Boar, therefore people leave the door open and also the kotatsu コタツ heated table for him to come and sit in the home.
The comes to the fields on the 1st day of the second lunar month and leaves for his home on 亥の日 the day of the wild boar in the 10th lunar month.

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三次市 Miyoshi city 三良坂町 Mirasaka town

On the second day of the second lunar month, children get a moxabustion treatment called ヤイト yaito.
On this day Toshitokujin goes back to Takamagahara 高天原 the Fields of Heaven.

. yaitobi やいと日 day for moxabustion treatment .

.......................................................................　Kagawa 香川県 .....

Toshigami San 年神さん
In the hamlet of 真鈴 Marin when people wake up on gantan 元旦 the first day of the New Year, they have to open the door of the zashiki 座敷 living room to let Toshigami San inside.

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Kagawa 東かがわ市 Higashi-Kagawa city

Toshigami 年神
okuri shogatsu オクリ正月 is the day to send off the deity on The 15th of January. This day is also called
Jugonichi shogatsu 十五日正月 New Year day of the 15th.
People make offerings to the Toshigami and pray for a good harvest and safety for the family. Then they go to the river with the offerings, light a fire with shimenawa 注連 a ritual rope and eat the offerings.
This is also called dondo トンド (Dondo Yaki)
The smoke of the fire is used by Toshigami to go back to the sky.
. dondon yaki どんどん焼き ritual fire at New Year 　 .

.......................................................................　Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
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曽於郡 Soo district

. Toshigami and 山の神 Yama no Kami .

.......................................................................　Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
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足柄上郡 Ashigara-Kami district 山北町 Yamakita town

Toshigami 年神 / 歳神
Toshigami comes every year on the first day of January and leaves on the 14th day.
In other villages he leaves on u no hi ウの日 / 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit.
On this day people make offerings of azuki mochi 小豆餅 rice cakes with auspicious red beans.
On the first day of the New Year people make offerings of zooni 雑煮 to Toshigami and Kuwagami 桑神 the protector deity of mulberries and silk.

.......................................................................　Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
曽於郡 Soo district

. Toshigami, Yamanokami and Tanokami .

.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....
大年神社 / 王歳神社 / 大歳神社 Otoshi Jinja

- There are many shrines with this name in Japan.
The deity Toshigami 年神 / 歳神 is venerated there.
- Wikipedia has a list -

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tanuki 狸 badger
Near the corner on the road to the shrine 大年神社 Otoshi Jinja it often happened that a Tanuki posing as a priest came out and threw sand at the pilgrims.

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Kyoto 三和町 Miwacho Ashibuchi Fukuchiyama

. ushi oni, ushioni, gyuuki 牛鬼 "bull-demon" .
The part North of the Shrine 王歳神社 Otoshi Jinja is called Yuri-ga-hana 百合ヶ花 "lily flowers". This is where the Ushioni lives.
On the mountain side of the river is Yonaki Matsu 夜泣き松 "the pine which cries at night". The Ushioni lives in the cave above it.
Sometimes he comes out behind the pine and plays tricks on the humans.

Near the Shrine is a withered matsu no ki 松の木 pine tree. Toward the end of the Meiji period there was just part of the stem left.
People peel a bit of the bark and make a small fire. Children who see this fire will stop yonaki 夜泣き crying at night.

.......................................................................　Miyagi 宮城県 .....
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黒川郡 Kurokawa district 大和町 Taiwa village

In this village 歳の神 Toshi no Kami is called in the local dialect
オドストクズン Odosudokuzun, Odosu toku zun (Otoshi Toku Jin).

.......................................................................　Nagano 長野県 .....

According to ancient Asian lore, the new year comes with a new female deity.
She comes on the evening of day 30 of the 12th lunar month. People prepare the special kamidana 神棚 Shelf of the Gods for her.
When the year is over they tear it down and burn it, then built a new one.

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南佐久郡 Minami-Saku district 川上村 Kawakami village

. Doosojin 道祖神 Dosojin, Dososhin - the Wayside Gods .
The Dosojin are venerated in December as お正月様 the Deities of the New Year.

.......................................................................　Niigata 新潟県 .....

正月準備：年神様 Niigata no Toshigami Sama
新潟県史　資料編22　民俗1 大竹信雄 Otake Nobul

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東蒲原郡 Higashi-Kanbara district 阿賀町 Aga town

. chinjugami　鎮守神 tutelary deities .
Toshitokujin comes for the New Year as a tutelary deity.

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Niigata 糸魚川市 Itoigawa city

Toshi no Kami 年の神 comes on the New Year day from the direction of アキ / 亜希 Aki.
All preparations for his coming must be finished by lunchtime.
No more cleaning of the home after lunchtime. If someone uses a broom, Toshitokujin will be swept out.

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Niigata 長岡市 Nagaoka city 福島町 Fukushima town

For the New Year, komedawara 米俵 a bale of rice from last year's harvest is decorated in the living room as a welcome for Toshigami sama 年神様.
In many parts 歳徳神 Toshitokujin comes on the first u no hi 卯の日 the day of the rabbit.
If this falls on the 12th day of the year, it is a bad omen and might bring a bad harvest.

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Niigata 中魚沼郡 Naka-Uonuma district 津南町 Tsunan town

Shogatsu sama 正月様
comes home from Tenjiku 天竺 India in January. Once he met Daishi Sama 大師様 Kobo Saishi on the way. Daishi Sama nad eaten rice cakes and crumbs, but Shogatsu sama laughed and said, he had gotten quite a lot of food offerings to eat.

.......................................................................
Niigata 佐渡市 Sado city

For the New Year a special toshidana 歳棚 (kamidana) shelf for the New Year is put up for 歳徳神 Toshitokujin.
He comes from the direction of 亜希 Aki town and goes back to this direction.

.......................................................................
Niigata 十日町市 Tokamachi city

正月様 Shogatsu Sama - Deity of the New Year
Toshigamisama 歳神様 comes from the high sky and thus lands on a high tree.

.......................................................................
Niigata 十日町市 Tokamachi city 松之山 Matsunoyama

歳徳神 Toshitokujin comes on the 30st of December.
A special kamidana 神棚 Shelf of the Gods is put up for her.
After the New Year celebration, this shelf is taken down.

.......................................................................　Okayama 岡山県 .....
.......................................................................

In the oku no ma 奥の間 living room in the back people prepare a special kamidana 神棚 shelf ror the gods to venerate 年神 Toshigami.
They also venerate other deities there, like the Gods from 出雲大社 Izumo Shrine and 金毘羅 Konpira shrine together with the Ujigami 氏神 clan deities.
In a separate small shelf below this they venerate 金神 Konjin and 庚申 Koshin.
Toshigami is also called ワカドシ Wakadoshi san, "Young Deity" and has only one leg, so they offer only one new zoori 草履 sandal.
If they offer the sandals they were wearing then a horse or cow was lost, they are sure to find the animal.

. Konjin 金神 "God of metals" .

. Kooshin 庚申 Koshin, ka no e saru deity .

.......................................................................
Okayama 美作市 Mimasaka town

Wakatoshi sama 若年様 "Honorable Young Deity"
The nando 納戸 / ナンド closet for storage, is often used for the young couple as a bedroom.
For the New Year, they prepare a special shelf to venerate San no Kami 産の神 the Deity of Birth together with 若年様 the Deity of the New Year.

. san no kami お産の神 deity of birth .

.......................................................................　Saitama 埼玉県 .....
.......................................................................
Saitama 北埼玉郡 Kita-Saitama district 騎西町 Kisai town

Toshigami sama 年神様
This Deity comes on the morning of the New Year, so the master of the house has to prepare the decorations and offerings.
The Deity leaves the home on u no hi 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit and the decorations and offerings are taken down.
The food offerings are used to prepare zooni 雑煮 New Year soup.
..
.....................................................................
Saitama 大里郡 Osato district 妻沼町 Menuma town

On the 15th of January, people prepare azukigayu あずきがゆ rice gruel with small soy beans as an offering to お正月様 O-Shogatsu Sama. Sometimes they keep a bit. If helps when stung by a bee.
Keeping the gruel until the 18th day and then eating one bite for each family member will prevent the family from getting ill.

.......................................................................　Shimane 島根県 .....

Toshigami Sama 年神様
This deity brings a special toshidama 年玉 New Year Gift on the last day of the Year.
Once a man, who did not want go get older, hid in the thicket to have a look. Since Toghigami threw the gifts from above, he could not see him.
So he could not help but getting older another year.

.......................................................................
Shimane 八束郡 Yatsuka district 美保町 Miho town

Toshigami 年神
has only one leg. Once he came down in a field of nasu 茄子 eggplants and lost one leg.

.......................................................................　Tokushima 徳島県 .....

January 15th is called okuri-shogatsu 送り正月 "seeing off the New Year".
All the decorations made for the New Year are being taken to the local Shinto shrine and burned in a special ritual.
After that special kagamimochi 鏡餅 rice cakes for the New Year are offered, they are fried in this fire, taken home and eaten with the family.

.......................................................................
Tokushima 池田町 Ikeda town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year", 歳徳神 Toshitokujin is offered a new light and special food on the shelf.

.......................................................................
Tokushima 美馬郡 Mima district 貞光町 Sadamitsu town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year", sometimes called agari shoogatsu 上がり正月 - day to put down the New Year decorations and sending 歳徳神 Toshitokujin home.

.......................................................................
Tokushima 三野町 Mino town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year, sometimes called okuri shoogatsu おくり正月 "sending the New Year off".
The New Year decorations are burned at the local Shinto Shrine or under a bridge.
歳徳神 Toshitokujin is sent off with the smoke of these fires.

.......................................................................
Tokushima 三好郡 Miyoshi district 東祖谷山村 Higashi-Iyayamason village

年神さん，正月神さん okuri shoogatsu オクリ正月
January 15 is 小正月 the small new year, also called okuri shoogatsu オクリ正月.
All the food offerings from the kamidana 年棚 shelf are put into a pot and cooked over a fire.
The Deity uses the smoke of the fire to go back to the sky.

.......................................................................　Yamaguchi 山口県 .....
.......................................................................
豊浦郡 Toyoura district 豊浦町 Toyoura town // 大歳神社 Otoshi Jinja

. ushi oni, ushioni, gyuuki 牛鬼 "bull-demon" .
In the year 958, the monster Ushioni came from 新羅国 Silla in Korea and lived at the castle of mount 鬼ヶ城山 Onigajo. From there he did a lot harm to the farmers living there.
The daughter of the priest a the shrine 大歳神社 Otoshi Jinja became the concubine of this Ushioni.
On the evening of th 14th day of the 10th lunar month, the priest shot an arrow at the Ushioni and hit his eye. The Demon fled to the mountain and died on its top.
Since then the mountain is called Mount Onigajo.
Flies at the top of the mountain have only one eye.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
年神 / 正月様
51 元旦 gantan - collecting in the comments

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- source : pinterest -

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- #toshitokujin #newyear #toshigami #koshogatsu #kamidana #kagamimochi #sainokami #dosojin -
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07/07/2019

Yabugami Yabukami legends

............................................................................　Oita 大分県
川崎村 Kawasaki village

Many homes venerate their very own
. yashikigami　屋敷神 "estate deity" .

Jiguroo sama ジグロー様 Jiguro Sama
In the town of 鎮西町 Chinzeimachi the family 坂口家 Sakaguchi venerates Jiguro Sama.
When they built their house in 1865, they did not know about Jiguro sama and were reprimanded.
So they begun to venerate Jiguro Sama, the local Yabugami, as their "estate deity".

- - - - -

Koichirogami 小一郎神 Koichiro no Kami
He is a kind of yashikigami 屋敷神 "estate deity" in Northern Kyushu.
Before he was venerated as Yabugami, many people in the village were very ill.
There is also a forest for him, 小一郎森 Koichiro Mori.
-
Once the home of an ishiku 石工 stone mason was hit by a fire, but there was no reason for a fire to break out in the first place and no strong wind either. So he had a divination about his fate. He had often taken stones ouf of the Koichiro Moir and the deity was angry. He had promised to have a 神楽 Kagura performance for the Deity but forgotten to keep his promise, so his home burned down
- and
- at 大神村 the village Ogamura
The 佐藤家f Sato family venerated Koichirogami in their estate forest.
In November they held a festival in his honor and prayed to all the deities in the region.

Koichiro Jinja 小一郎神社 Koichiro Shinto Shrine
a famous place in Sada 佐田の名所

A deity to ward off evil and disaster, also to help with birth.
The person named Koichiro of this shrine seems to be the Samurai 新田小一郎義氏 Niida Koichiro (新田義氏 Niida Yoshiuji) of the castle 馬ヶ岳城 Umagatake Jo (present day 福岡県行橋市津積馬ヶ岳).
.
参考：小一郎信仰とは The belief in Koichiro
Most common at 国東半島 Kunisaki peninsula until South to Fukuoka and a few in Kumamoto.
Sometimes venerated as a stone monument with the name. Often in a forest 小一郎森 Koichiro Mori, where people are not allowed to cut trees.
These places are often in a thicked (yabu).
The spelling can be 小一郎、小市郎、今日霊、古市老、魂市郎、濃血霊、千人霊 ...
- reference source : oct-net.ne.jp/sada_m... -

............................................................................　Saga 佐賀県
東松浦郡 Higashi-Matsuura district 鎮西町 Chinzei town

A grave where the dead person is not known is called
yabu-baka 藪墓 (yabu no haka) grave in the thicket.
People who get a high fever or hurting legs and lower back pain are maybe cursed by Yabugami.

- - - - -

Kishidake, Kishitake 岸岳 Mount Kishidake
There was a family which venerated Yabugami, but not as a Shinto deity but a Buddhist protector.
If they cut a tree or bamboo in his sacred forest they were cursed.
Yabugami is a relative of the deity from Mount Kishidake, who was split of from the main line because he behaved badly.
There is also a castle at the mountain, 鬼子岳城 Kishidake Jo.

- quote -
Kishidake castle / Kishitake castle (Kishidake-jo / Kishitake-jo)
- Magnificent mountain castle with sad history -
... Kishidake castle (岸岳城) is located at Kishidake mountain, one of about 250 meter tall from hillside at the root of Higashi-Matsuura peninsula in the north part of current Saga prefecture. Kishidake mountain places at the merging point of Matsuura-gawa river which flows into Karatsu-bay and its tributary Tokusue-gawa river, and at the middle of narrow flat area at the root of Higashi-Matsuura peninsula separated from Fukuoka plain, Saga plain and Sasebo area by mountains. ...
... Prosperity of the Hata clan ...
- source : japancastle.jp/2017/01/Kishidake-castle... -

- quote -
... Kishidake, the birthplace of Karatsu ware, is located in Kitahata ...
Conventional knowledge tells us that Karatsu ware got its start with the invasion of the Korean Peninsula by Toyotomi Hideyoshi from 1592 -1598, after Korean potters returning with the Japanese army started producing ceramics. However, even prior to this it is said that Sen no Rikyu treasured Karatsu ware. ...
- reference source : -

............................................................................　Yamaguchi 山口県
豊北町 Hohoku town

Yabugami 藪神 Kami of the thicket, of the bamboo grove
At 元山 Motoyama near 角島 Tsunoshima they use bow and arrow for Shinto rituals at the local Shrine and call the thicket nearby ヤブガミ Yabugami.
Half way on the mountain of Motoyama there is a kofun 古墳 tumulus in a bamboo grove called Yabugami.
The deity residing there is rather wild and feared by the people.
At 尾山 Oyama they keep a part of the land without cultivating anything and call the thicket Yabugami.
The fields around it are called 神様田 Fields of the Deity.
Water for the fields is provided by 水の神 Mizunokami, seen as Yabugami.

. Mizu no Kami, Mizunokami 水の神 Deity of Water - Legends .

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. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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藪神の脱ぎちらしたる竹の皮
Yabugami no nugi-chirashitaru take no kawa

the deity of
bamboo in the thicket
looses its skin

荒井正隆 Arai Masataka

. take no kawa nugu　竹の皮脱ぐ bamboo looses its skin .
- - kigo for Summer - -

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- #yabugami #yabukami -
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06/07/2019

hi no kami fire legends

source : rekihaku-bo/historystation　/ イザナギとイザナミの国造り

. hibuse 火防と伝説 / 火伏せ Legends about fire prevention .

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Ubugami toshite no hi no kami 産神としての火の神 The Kami of Birth as the Kami of Fire
Essay by 最上孝敬 Mogami Kokei

When giving birth even in hot Summer the fire of the hearth must be kept.
If there are flames of fire, no bad influence will come to the home.
So in Summer the fire is kept burning for seven days.

. Ubugami 産神 "deity of birth" .
産土神 Ubusunagami, Ubushina no Kami, Ubu no Kami （うぶすながみ、うぶしなのかみ、うぶのかみ）

. sanbi 産火 / 産忌 - shinibi 死火 / 死忌 fire taboos for birth and death .

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. Aragamisama, Koojinsama, Koojin sama 荒神様 Aragami .
Kamagami, Kamajin 釜神 The Hearth Deity - Fire in the Kitchen
Kamado no Kami カマドの神 Kami of the hearth, the kitchen stove

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Hi no Kami Inari 火の神稲荷の信仰諸相と形成過程
Essay by 大森恵子 Omori Keiko
稲荷信仰と宗教民俗
- reference source : iwata-shoin.co.jp... -

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Hifuse no tanishi Inari 火防せの田螺稲荷 Hibuse, Tanishi Inari preventing fire
Essay by 長沢利明

. tanishi 田螺 / たにし paddie snails, mud snails .

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

Jizo Bosatsu can detect fire at an early stage and help prevent fires with his spiritual power.
. Jizō - Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 - ABC List .

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.......................................................................　Akita 秋田県 .....
.......................................................................
仙北郡 Senboku district

. tanishi 田螺 mud snails .
Mud snails are seen as messengers of Mizunokami. They protect from fire.

.......................................................................　Gifu 岐阜県 .....
.......................................................................
揖斐郡 Ibi district

. Inari 稲荷と伝説 Legends about the Fox Deity .
Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷 Inari the Fire Deity
At the temple 洞泉寺 Tosen-Ji the deity 稲荷大明神 Inari Daimyojin is venerated. A white fox living in the area is venerated.
The deity protects from fire, brings a good harvest and harmony in the family and more.

.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....
.......................................................................
Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷

. tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢－ racoon dog, badger legends .
After the great fire in 1915, the priest from the Shrine 熊野神社 Kumano Jinja said it was the curse of a Tanuki.
If they would venerate the Tanuki as the 稲荷神 Inari Deity, there would be protection from fire.
So the people venerated it as 八王稲荷大明神 Hachio Inari Daimyojin.
People come here to pray for protection and fire prevention to our day.

The Shrine is located at - Ichinohashi-Miyanouchicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto.

.......................................................................
Kyoto 足立区 Adachi ward

Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷 Inari the Fire Deity
In the year 1907, a bunke 分家 branch family separated from the honke 本家 main family. They got 屋敷神稲荷 a Inari Deity to protect them and it became their Yashikigami .
They believe that they did not have any damage from a fire since is the power of this deity.

. yashikigami　屋敷神 "estate deities" .

.......................................................................　Miyagi 宮城県 .....

. Legends about Jizo Bosatsu - 地蔵菩薩 .
When they wanted to built a new road, they had to fill up the well and relocate the statue of 地蔵 Jizo Bosatsu.
Jizo and Mizunokami and Hinokami 火の神 "Deity of Fire" came out every night to meet at the new spot. After some special rituals they stopped to come.
- - - - -
O-Hi Kamisama お火神様
If people burn toogarashi 唐辛子 chili peppers and kaki no tane 柿の種 seeds of persimmons, it well prevent fire.

.......................................................................　Nagano 長野県 .....
.......................................................................
飯田市 Ida city / 愛宕町 Atago Town

rooba no tatari 老婆のタタリ curse of the old woman
At 梶谷 Kashitani there is 愛宕様 a Shrine for Atago sama.
Once upon a time, the villagers had driven out an old woman and burned her home.
Fearing her curse, they built a Shrine for Atago sama and have a festival in her honor on the 24th of the first lunar month.

.......................................................................　Oita 大分県 .....
.......................................................................
佐伯市 Saiki city

荒神様 Aragami Sama
protects the home from Fire. He looks closely at people coming to the door to see if they are good or bad. If a bad person wants to come in, he drives him away.
If someone tells a lie, Aragami Sama will soon find out.

追わえヘボ（荒神様）

.......................................................................　Shiga 滋賀県 .....
.......................................................................
長浜市 Nagahama city // Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷

. Inari 稲荷と伝説 Legends about the Inari Fox Deity .
At the temple 大通寺 Daitsu-Ji the deity お花大明神 O-Hana-Daimyojin is venerated.

When the wood from the 伏見桃山城 Fushimi Momoyama castle was transported here to built the temple, a fox came with it and is now venerated.
O-Hanagitsune お花狐 / お花キツネ O-Hana Kitsune prevents fire and walks around the temple all the time to take care of it.
Every month the Inari koo 稲荷講 special prayer group for Inari make offerings of abura-age 油揚げ fried tofu, something foxes like best.

. abura-age 油揚げと伝説 Legends about fried tofu .

.......................................................................　Shizuoka 静岡県 .....
.......................................................................
磐田郡 Iwata district 二俣町 Futamata town // 火防 fire prevention

. Gyoki Bosatsu 行基菩薩 and Tengu 天狗 .
Tengu 先明天狗笠鋒坊権 Ryuho Bo Gongen.

.......................................................................　Tochigi 栃木県 .....
.......................................................................
宇都宮市 Utsunomiya city // 火防 fire prevention

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .
At the temple 成高寺 Joko-Ji in Utsunomiya there came shugenja 修験者 a mountain priest (the local Tengu) to the priest 祥貞和尚 Shotei and asked to give him his hand.
"Without my hand I will be in big trouble", the priest refused but the man said he would bring it back. They agreed on this. Since that day his hand did not grow any more.
One month later the mountain priest came back and brought him a dooin 銅印 bronze stamp with the letters for 火防 fire prevention as a thank-you present.

.......................................................................　Tokyo 東京都 .....
.......................................................................
練馬区 Nerima ward

Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷 Inari the Fire Deity
. hikeshi Inari 火消稲荷 Firefighter Inari Fox .
.......................................................................
Tokyo 多摩村 Tama village

In September when the sesame seeds are ready, people make two bundles as offerings for 荒神様 Aragami Sama.
He is the protector from fire. If a child falls into a fire by accidents, it will be able to jump out quickly, like the seed of sesame thrown in fire.

.......................................................................　Yamagata 山形県 .....
.......................................................................
鶴岡市 Tsuruoka city

. jookadoo no hi 常火堂の火 sacred fire at the Jokado Hall .
and the blood of Fudo Myo-O 動明王

temple 荒澤寺 Kotaku-Ji.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
火神 / 火防 - ok
40 火の神 to collect

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. Mizu no Kami, Mizunokami 水の神 Deity of Water - Legends .

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- #hinokami #firegod #firedeity #hinokamiinari #inari -
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06/06/2019

mizunokami unagi legends

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

. Chinju Sama, Chinjusama 鎮守様 Guardian Deity Legends .

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鰻と水の神 Unagi to Mizu no Kami
早川孝太郎 Hayakawa Kotaro (1889 - 1956) / 民俗学者、画家

Most of the legends below are from the essay by Hayakawa san.
Some are about hebi 蛇 a serpent, imori 井守 a newt or Kappa san.

. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .

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As I am writing about Unagi, there is this news at NHK:

Loch Ness monster 'may be a giant eel'
An international team of scientists says the fabled Loch Ness monster in Scotland, also known as "Nessie," could be a giant eel.
"Nessie" is said to be a dinosaur-like creature with a long neck.
The research team was led by Professor Neil Gemmell, a geneticist from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Gemmell said on Thursday that they did not find any DNA for dinosaur-like creatures in samples taken from some 250 locations in Loch Ness.
But Gemmell said there is a lot of eel DNA in the water and the scientists cannot exclude the possibility the Loch Ness monster may be a giant eel.
The team took samples of so-called environmental DNA from the water and compared this data with known genetic sequences.
- source : NHK September 06, 2019 -

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

....................................................................... Aichi 愛知県　 .....
.......................................................................
新城市 Shinshiro city 長篠村 Nagashina village

. ryuuguu 竜宮と伝説 Ryugu Legends about the Dragon Palace .
At the river 寒渓川 Kankeigawa is an access to the Dragon Palace.
The master of this 川淵 riverside is an eel.
Once or twice a year it hunts for ayu 鮎 sweetfish (trout) and shows his features on the water surface. Its tail is said to be in the form of a hand fan.

.......................................................................　Aomori 青森県 .....
.......................................................................

The lord of 十和田湖 lake Towadako is an eel which is very very large, maybe more than 1400 meters.
. Hachirootaroo 八郎太郎 Hachirotaro, Hachiro-Taro. .

.......................................................................　Gifu 岐阜県 .....

. unagi to oni 鰻 the Eel and yooki 妖鬼 the Monster Demon .
and 白鰻 one white eel, kami no tsukai 神の使いの鰻 messenger of the deity

.......................................................................　Ibaraki 茨城県 .....
.......................................................................
龍ヶ崎市 Ryugasaki city

. Kokuzo Bosatsu 虚空蔵菩薩 Kokūzō, Akashagarbha .

kami no o-tsukai 神のお使い messenger of the deity
messenger of 鎮守様 the Chinju Sama guardian deity
There are various stories about the relationship of the deity 虚空蔵 Kokuzo and the eel.
Kokuzo is the patron deity of people born in ushi 丑 the year of the bull. These people are not allowed to eat eel their whole life.
In the temple ponds are often quite a lot of eels, seen as the local messengers of the deity.
Of course they are not caught by others and never eaten.

うなぎのお寺彦倉虚空蔵尊 A Temple for Eels - Hikokura in Saitama
- reference source : unagino-otera.jp... -
This statue was erected in 2005.
The spere of about 50 cm represents the space.
Inside are the carvings of two eels and two baby eels.
Every fourth sunday in October there is うなぎ供養会 a special memorial service for the eel.
People come here to express their gratitude for this animal.

- There is reason why this Kokuzo is related to the eel.
Well, many many years ago, a young farmer couple had a baby. The couple went to the fields to work and took the baby, laid it near the edge of the large field, where it fell asleep soon.
The parents worked all day and did not hear the baby.
BUT - when the baby woke up, there came an eel and the baby followed it to the river, where it fell and was taken away by the waves.
When the parents came back in the evening, they could not find the child. They searched everywhere, even the neighbours came searching, but they could not find it.
It must have been kidnapped by the gods . . .
So finally they went home, passing a nearby temple, when they heard the voice of their baby crying. They went inside and found a statue of Kokuzo, all dripping wet, with many eels around its legs. And the baby was there too, with no harm done to it.
Kokuzo had saved and protected the baby with the help of the eels . . .
and thus is became うなぎのお寺 the "Eel Temple".
1-83-1 Hikokura, Misato, Saitama / 埼玉県三郷市彦倉

....................................................................... Iwate 岩手県　 .....

imori 井守 (いもり) newt, eft, kind of salamander
In the area of 九戸郡 Kunohe there are legneds about 八郎太郎 Hachirotaro, Hachiro-Taro. He once attacked the guardian dragon of Lake Towada.
A young man from 大川目村荒津平 Okawame village drank water from a spring and swallowed a newt by accident.
When the boy became older, be grew up to be quite a giant and never lost a fight.
Later he became the Lord of
. Hachiroogata 八郎潟 Hachirō-gata .
in Akita.

.......................................................................
花巻市 Hanamaki city

In the district of 稗貫郡 Hienuki in a temple forest lives a 蛇 serpent venerated as 雲南権現 Unnan Gongen.

There is a small shrine in its honor.
source and more photos : rubese.net/gurucomi...

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宮古市 Miyako city 茂市 Moichi

. Kappa 河童 legends from Iwate .
At the confluence of river 閉伊川 Heigawa and 宮古川 Miyakogawa there is a river pool and a small shrine by its side.
They say a Kappa lives here and sometimes there are water accidents.

....................................................................... Kagawa 香川県　 .....

讃岐三豊の水神 Sanuki Mitoyo no Suijin
細川敏太郎 Hosokawa Bintaro

.......................................................................
羽方(現高瀬町) Takase Hagata

unagibuchi ryuuoo 鰻淵龍王 the Dragon King of the Eel Pool
is venerated on a rock with a shimenawa 注連縄 sacred rope around it.
There live kuro-unagi 黒鰻 black eels and shiro-unagi 白鰻 white eels.
If people saw a black eel, it would rain. If they saw a white eel, it would shine..
Many people came to find out about the rain in their region.

.......................................................................　Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
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大島郡 Oshima district 瀬戸内町 Setouchi town

kami no o-tsukai 神のお使い messenger of the deity
At 古仁屋町勝浦 Koniya town, Katsuura, there is one 泉 spring where many eels live.
The people who live nearby venerate them as the messengers of God. and to not hunt them. They have a special black spot on the head, a sign from Mizunokami.

....................................................................... Kyushu 九州　 .....

- - - - - 奄美大島の水神 Amami Oshima no Suijin
- - - - - 山下文武 Yamashita Fumitake

This Suijin does not like "long things", like the eel.
If people who belief in Siujin eat an eel, they will fall ill and will be cursed.
So nobody even tried to eat eel.

....................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県　 .....
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栗原市 Kurihara city 金成町 Kannari town

Where the river is very deep and few people come, there is the living ground of the honorable Eel.
Sometimes children come here and have accidents. One day two blind people came from the North and killed the eel.

....................................................................... Shizuoka 静岡県　 .....
.......................................................................
浜松市 Hamamatsu city

kami no tsukai 神の使い messenger of the deity
One of the
Tōtōmi no Nanafushigi 遠江七不思議 The Seven Wonders of Totomi
At 引佐郡奥山村 Inasa district, in Okuyama village, there is 鰻井戸 / うなぎ井戸 a well where eels live.
In Summer and Winter, people can see eels swim in the water and think it is the messenger of Mizunokami.

....................................................................... Tochigi 栃木県　 .....

Mizu no Kami 水の神
Iwadakemaru 岩嶽丸
The villain Iwadakemaru was beheaded, and his head flew away and got stuck on a large tree, he then fell into a nearby pond and died.
The vengeful spirit of Iwadake Maru became a daija 大蛇 large serpent and caused much trouble.
The villagers built a Shrine to apease his soul and venerated him as 八竜神 one of the eight Dragon Deities.
He is now the protector of the waterways and the fields.

. Hachiryuu 八龍神社 Eight Dragon Shrines .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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日本うなぎ検定

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. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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