Japan - Shrines and Temples

06/05/2018

Okitsuhime Shrine Ishikawa

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. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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Okitsuhime Jinja 奥津姫神社 Okitsuhime Shrine, Ishikawa
おきつひめじんじゃ / Okitsu-hime Shrine
奥津比め神社奥津比咩神社 (舳倉島　Hegurajima Island)

石川県輪島市海士町舳倉島高見２ / Ishikawa, Wajima,

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Tagiri Hime no Mikoto 田心姫命

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竜神池と観音堂 Dragon God Pond and Kannon Do Hall
藩政末期に一旭上人という僧が島にやって来て、毎晩観音堂に島民を集めて説教をしていた。ところが、いつも末座に若い女がじっと聞きいっているので、ある晩上人がたずねると、女は「私はこの池に棲む竜なのです。難破船の錨の毒にあたって死んだのですが、未だに成仏できずにいます。どうか助けてください。」と涙を流してたのむのだった。
そこで翌朝、島民が池の水をくみ上げたところ、池の底から大小二体の骨が見つかった。骨は樽四杯分にもなった。
この母子の竜骨は法蔵寺分院に葬られた。人々は父親の竜が現在も近くの海に生息していると考え、神として祭って無他神社とした。
この竜神池は周囲約１８０ｍあり、底が竜宮城に通じていて決して水が枯れることは無いといわれている。
観昔堂は中北組と上北組が管理している。
－舳倉島案内より－

恵比須神社 Ebisu Jinja
島の北東に位置し、漁業繁栄の祈願所で、恵比須大神を祭っている。島にある七つの小宮の一つで、恵比須組と大北組が管理している。
舳倉島へ一斉渡島の行っていた頃は、島へ着くとまず目分の所管の小宮へ組の全員が集まって今年の稼業の安全祈願を行い、お神酒五升を飲んで夜を明かした。この行事を「ゴショウヅイヤ」(五升通夜)と呼んでいる。
そして、それが済むと島民全員が総本社の奥津比咩神社に集まり、区長が主宰して一年間のいろいろな決まり事を相談する総会を開き、最後に全員で飲み明かしたといわれる。これが「ナカマヅイヤ」(仲問通夜)である。また一年の稼業を終えて一斉離島する時はその逆で「レイヅイヤ」(礼通夜)が行われていた。
－舳倉島案内より－

- - - - - HP of the Shrine
- source : genbu.net/data/noto... -

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Yearly Festivals　年中行事

Nafune Taisai 名舟大祭 Great festival at Nafune
July 31st / August 1st // at Nafune-machi, Wajima City

This festival features participants wearing demon masks and seaweed head gear and culminates in a frenzy of wild drumming.
輪島キリコ　Kiriko is like mikoshi (portable shrine), but it is set up not a portable shrine but a tall lantern on the frame. On the lantern, beautiful pictures or characters are painted.

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御陣乗太鼓　Gojinjo daiko drum festival　
Cheers for kiriko lanterns climbing a steep hill
Nafune-machi, Wajima City is known for its Gojinjo drum performance.
Legend has it that when the army of the lord of Echigo, Kenshin Uesugi, attacked Noto, it was driven away by masked fishermen of Nafune Village beating their drums. People thanked the deity Okutsuhime of Hegura Island for this blessing, and started to play the drums at the festival of Okutsuhime Shrine.
The first highlight of the festival starts at 9:00 pm on the first evening of the festival. The kiriko lanterns gather at Hakusan Shrine, a detached worship place of Okutsuhime Shrine. Hakusan Shrine is located on a steep cliff. The people carrying the lanterns climb the hill carefully so as not to fall, and are encouraged by the cheers of the audience. After that, the kiriko lanterns and the portable shrine are carried to Nafune Beach.
The portable shrine is carried on a boat to the torii gate in the sea to meet the deity of Okutsuhime Shrine on Hegura Island. After the portable shrine returns to the beach, the performance of Gojinjo drums starts. The fearful demon masks and dynamic sound of the drums are impressive. After 11 o’clock at night, the portable shrine and kiriko lanterns are paraded through the town, and a kiriko performance takes place in the square.
- source : ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/nafune...

- Look at many photos !
能登のキリコ祭り Noto Kiriko Festival
- reference source : hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko...
七尾市のキリコ祭り -

source : tripensemble.com/gojinjodaiko...

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The origin of Gojinjyo Taiko dates back to 1576,when it is reputed to have saved the villege of Nafune on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture from an offencive launched by the well-known war lord,Kenshin Uesugi, to invade the interior region of Noto. In courageous attempt to defend their native land,the villagers penetrated the Uesugi ranks under cover of darkness,wearing masks of bark and with seaweed on their heads to give the appearance of tangled long hair.
The Uesugi camp
was thrown into confusion at the unexpected sound of their Jintaiko, or battle drums.and the unearthly appearance.They fled from the region in due haste.
It is said that the tremendous noises heard that night were the sounds of Gojinjo Taiko.
Gojinjo Taiko was designated as Intangible Cultural Asset by Wajima City in 1961 , and by Ishikawa Prefecture in 1963.
- HP of the Gojinjo Daiko drums
- reference source : gojinjodaiko.jp/en... -

. The Big Drum (taiko, oodaiko 大鼓、太鼓、大太鼓） .

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. Onipedia 日本の鬼 The Demons of Japan .

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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. Mikoshi, danjiri . . . Festival Floats .

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- #okitsuhime #okutsuhime #gojinjodaiko #gojinjodrum -
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04/05/2018

Kizumi Jinja Ishikawa

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伝説によれば、慶長年間に新田義貞の子孫四郎兵衛義晴当地に居城を構え、家宝の剱を神体として素戔嗚尊を祀り、後に菊理姫命を合祀して新田氏の氏神とし、後には木住部落全体の崇敬するところとなった。昭和21年に山田郷神社より分離し当部落にあった気多神社、度会神社を合祀して、木住神社を創立した。3月28日花祭に鬼討ちと称し、鬼面を描き、参詣人が竹の弓矢で射的した後、白と草の餅で小さい菱餅を作り、太鼓の拍子に合わせて参詣人に撤餅し、その間、有志のものが桃花の枝を持って即興的に踊り、これを花踊りと称していたが今は踊る者がない。
- source : ishikawa-jinjacho.or.jp / 今蔵神社

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素戔嗚尊 Susanoo no Mikoto
菊理姫命 Kukurihime no Mikoto
伊弉諾命 Izanagi no Mikoto
天照大神 Amaterasu Okami
豊受大神 Toyouke Okami

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Yearly Festivals　年中行事

oni uchi matsuri, oniuchi 鬼打ち祭 Festival of hitting the demons
3月28日 March 28

Spring festival to pray for a good harvest, health and safety of the family.
A painting of saru-oni 猿鬼 Monkey-Demon is hung on a tree in the Shrine compound and then the Shrine parishioners shoot an arrow each at this demon.
After that they take branches with peach blossoms in both hands and perform a funny dance. The whole compound is then filled with laughter.

. saruoni, saru-oni　猿鬼 a Monkey-Deomn Yokai .

. Onipedia 日本の鬼 The Demons of Japan .

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- #kizumishrine #oniuchi -
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02/05/2018

Nihon Jinja Saitama

本庄市児玉町小平1578 / Kodamachō Kodaira, Honjō-shi, Saitama
Near 児玉町児玉198・八幡神社社 Hachiman Jinja
(also Ishigami Jinja 石神神社)

This is a shrine in honor of Jinmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan, built in 791 by Sakanoue Tamura Maro 坂上田村麻呂
This is the only shrine with this name in Japan.
There are six sub-shrines in the compound.
The way up to the shrine is via a huge stone staircase . . people come here to pray for becoming Number One in their field of work and achievement.
The priest in attendance lives in the nearby Hachiman Jinja Shrine.

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Jinmu Tenno 神武天皇

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この写真は４月３日の神武天皇祭に
本庄市児玉町小平の日本神社で撮ったものです。

. Jinmu Tenno 神武天皇 .

. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro 坂上田村麻呂 (758 - 811) .

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Nihon-jinja Shrine
This is the only shrine in all Japan registered with the Jinja Cho (Association of Shinto Shrines) under the name "Nihon-jinja Shrine."
As the only shrine bearing the name "Japan," Olympic athletes and many people involved in sports visit the shrine to worship.
A blue daruma from the Nihon-jinja Shrine accompanied Nadeshiko Japan (the Japanese women's soccer team) to the World Cup in Germany in 2011 and is said to have led the team to victory.
A blue daruma was also present at efforts to bring the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to Tokyo – another undertaking which succeeded splendidly.
The shrine sits atop a hill, and talismans, charms and blue daruma are available at the shop Arai Shoten at the foot of the hill.
- source : jobu-kinunomichi.jp -

The shrine is famous for its blue Daruma - all ready for winning and being Number One.
- reference source : arai-darumaya 荒井だるま屋 Arai Daruma Store -

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
After the final game finished 2–2 after extra time, Japan beat the United States 3–1 in a penalty shootout, becoming the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !
. Soccer World Cup Daruma .

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- #nihonjinja #yamatojinja -
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28/02/2018

Kagutsuchi Homusubi fire

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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Kagutsuchi カグツチ / 軻遇突智 Kagu-tsuchi - "incarnation of fire"
Homusubi no Mikoto 火産霊命
Hinokagatsuchi 火之迦具土

He is the main deity in residence at the many
. Atago Jinja 愛宕神社 Atago shrines of Japan .

Kagutsuchi is the patron deity of blacksmiths and ceramic workers.

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

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Other names:
Kagutsuchi no mikoto, Hinoyagihayao no kami, Hinokagabiko no kami (Kojiki),
Ho musuhi (Nihongi).
The kami of fire or hi no kami. According to Kojiki and an "alternate writing" transmitted by Nihongi, Izanami suffered mortal burns when giving birth to this kami.
Upon Izanami's death, Izanagi was enraged and cut up the deity with his sword, whereupon Takemikazuchi and other deities were produced from the blood on his sword.
Still other deities were produced from Kagutsuchi's body, and their names all included the element yamatsumi, thus indicating their relation to mountains.
In the Engishiki,
a source which contains the myth, Izanami, in her death throes, bears the water god Mizuhame, instructing her to pacify Kagutsuchi if he should become violent. This story also contains references to traditional fire-fighting tools: gourds for carrying water and wet clay and water reeds for smothering fires.
- reference source : Kadoya Atsushi - Kokugakuin -

Kuraokami, Takaokami 高おかみ神, Kuramitsuha
Three Kami produced from the blood that dripped from Izanagi's sword when he killed the kami of fire, Kagutsuchi.
. Kifune Shrine Kume 貴布弥（きふね）神社 .
岡山県久米郡久米町桑上 Kuwakami village, Kume, Okayama

. 金山彦神 Kanayamabiko, 金山姫 Kanayamabime .
According to Kojiki, these kami were produced from the vomit (taguri) emitted by Izanami as she lay dying following the birth of the kami of fire Kagutsuchi.
The History of Tatara - Kanayago-Kami

. Kifune Jinja 貴船神社 Shrine in Kyoto .
Tamayori-hime　玉依姫, a female water Kami, is venerated here to watch over Kagutsuchi, in a balance of fire and water worship in Kyoto.
The tow other deities enshrined here are Takaokami-no-Kami and Kuraokami-no-Kami.

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Kagutsuchi (aka Hi-no-Kagutsuchi) is the Shinto god or kami of fire and is also known as Homusubi. The son of Izanami and Izanagi, the fire god is the father of eight warrior gods and eight mountain gods, amongst others. Such a destructive force as fire in a culture where buildings were typically made of wood and paper resulted in Kagutsuchi becoming an important object of Shinto ritual and a frequent receiver of appeasing offerings.
- Genealogy & Offspring
According to the 8th-century CE Kojiki ('Record of Ancient Things') and Nikon Shoki ('Chronicle of Japan' and also known as the Nihongi), Kagutsuchi-no-kami, to give his full name, was born from Izanami, one of the Shinto creator gods, but such was his fierce heat that he killed his mother in the process. His father Izanagi was not best pleased with this result and so lopped off Kagutsuchi’s head with his great sword, the Ame-no-o-habari-no-kami. From the blood which gushed out over the surrounding rocks and dripped from the sword’s blade and hilt another eight gods were born, all of them powerful swordsmen kami. The two most important of these martial gods are Takemikazuchi-no-kami and Futsunushi-no-kami, with the former being also a thunder god and patron of the martial arts who famously subdued Namazu the giant catfish that lives beneath the earth and causes earthquakes by flipping his tail.

Two other gods born from Kagutsuchi’s blood were Kuraokami-no-kami, who is mentioned in the Manyoshu poem anthology (compiled c. 759 CE) as being a dragon and rain god.
Another is Amatsumikaboshi, the kami of Venus, the Evening Star. Her alternative name is Amenokagasewo.

After Kagutsuchi’s decapitation the story continues and from just about every body part of the fire god, from his left foot to his genitals, eight more gods were born. These were mountain gods which represented different types of mountains such as forested ones, those with moors, those far away, those possessing iron, those which provided passes to adjoining valleys and, of course, volcanoes. The stories of Kagutsuchi which include the creation of iron and swords may well be a mythological explanation for the arrival of iron and superior metal goods via immigrants arriving in Japan from mainland Asia at the beginning of the Yayoi Period (c. 300 BCE or earlier to c. 250 CE), many of whom may well have been warriors.

In an alternative version, or rather an added segment, recorded in the 10th-century CE Engishiki, before she dies Izanami hides away and gives birth to three more gods: the water kami Mizuhame-no-mikoto, the clay princess, the gourd, and the water reed. All four are instructed by their dying mother to watch out for Kagutsuchi and, if necessary, act to pacify him if he ever gets out of hand. The traditional fire-fighting equipment of the ancient Japanese was water, carried in a gourd, to pour on the fire while water reeds and clay were often used to smother it. Even today in some parts of Japan, there is a midwinter ritual where reed bundles are placed in the eaves of roofs so that they are handy if a fire should break out.
- Fire in Shinto Rituals
The Japanese have long since had a great fear of fire and the devastation it can cause, not least because Japanese buildings were traditionally made from highly combustible wood and paper walls with wood shale or grass roofs. Fires have destroyed almost every major ancient building and temple in the ancient cities of Japan over the centuries, and during the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), fires were so frequent at the capital Edo (modern Tokyo) that they were known as 'the flowers of Edo'.

It is not surprising then that ceremonies to appease and ward off Kagutsuchi were a common feature of Shinto ritual. In such rituals and prayers, Kagutsuchi is usually referred to as Homusubi, which translates as 'he who starts fires'. The ancient Japanese even dedicated a twice yearly ceremony to Kagutsuchi, the Ho-shizume-no-matsuri, which was sponsored by the imperial court whose sprawling palace complexes were frequently victim to fires. The ceremony was designed to please the god and ensure he would withhold his terrible flames for another six months. The destructive fire of Kagutsuchi is in contrast to the purifying fire of Shinto rituals, known as kiri-bi, which was traditionally made by rubbing together two pieces of hinoki wood, a type of cypress.

Kagutsuchi is sometimes equated with Atago Gongen, another kami of fire and considered an avatar of the Buddhist figure Jizo.
Strictly speaking, though, Atago Gongen is a more positive figure in Japanese mythology and acts as a protector from fire or a preserver of it.
- source : ancient.eu/Kagutsuchi - Mark Cartwright -

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- Reference : カグツチ
- Reference : kagutsuchi

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

. Katen, the God of Fire .
Katen 火天 / kajin 火神 the God of Fire

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. Karasu Tengu from the Atago Jinja shrine in Kyoto .

. Sugiyama Sooshoo (Soojoo)　杉山僧正 Sugiyama Sosho (Sojo) .
Sosho is about 3000 years old. He lives in 岩間町愛宕山 Mount Atagoyama in Iwama, Ibaraki.

. Taicho Daishi 泰澄大師 (682 ?683 - 767) .
He practised austerities at 愛宕山 Mount Atago together with En no Gyoja 役小角 En no Ozunu, where they met three Tengu and got special teachings and training.
天狗白峰大僧正 Tengu Shiramine Daisojo

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.......................................................................　Chiba 千葉県 .....

. Mount Takagoyama 高宕山 .
高宕山 The Kanji in the middle, 宕, refers to the cave, and this reminded people of the famous 愛宕山 Atagoyama in Kyoto.
Maybe the Tengu from Atagoyama even came here to visit ? ??

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

. "fire festival of Atago 愛宕の火祭り .

.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....

. 川中子の愛宕神社 Atago Shrine of Kawanakago .

.......................................................................　Miyazaki 宮崎県 .....

. Mount Atagoyama in Osaki 愛宕山のオサキ（尾根) .
and the wind kappa 兵主坊 Hyosubo

.......................................................................　Saitama　埼玉県 .....
Chichibu

. 和田神社 Wada Jinja .
with a sanctuary for the 愛宕様 Atago Deity, the 山の神 God of the Mountain.

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. Atago Gongen Densetsu　愛宕権現伝説 More Legends about Atago Gongen .

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08/01/2018

Hayama Shrine Fukushima

source : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tendomaru...
福島県相馬市馬場野 / Babano, Soma, Fukushima

- - - - - Deitiy in residence - - - - -

. Ooyamatsuminomikoto 大山祇神, 大山積神, 大山津見神 Oyama Tsumi no Mikoto .
Oyamatsumi no Mikoto, Ōyamatsumi - protector of trees and the mountain forest

. Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain in Fukushima .

The 葉山祠 Hayama shrine is also related to the Soma clan.
Soma Yoshitane 相馬義胤 (1548 - 16365)
He came to live in 馬場野 Babano.

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Hayama-gomori - Retreat at Hayama.
A festival held between the fifteenth and the eighteenth day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar at Kuronuma Shrine, Fukushima City.
According to a local legend, a long time ago, when the nearby hamlet of Kanesawa was being attacked by a giant crab the size of a tatami mat, seven families found shelter at Kuronuma Shrine.
There they received an oracle ( 託宣 takusen / 神託 shintaku) which enabled them to get rid of the crab.
It is said that a giant serpent (orochi) in the Abukuma River was also defeated thanks to a takusen from this shrine. The festival is held to commemorate these two events. Rites of obeisance and making mochi rice cakes are held on the fifteenth.
On the sixteenth, worshippers staying overnight at the small shrines, get naked in order to perform the yoisa rite, a pantomime of rice cultivation.
At dawn on the eighteenth, after having been purified with water, the worshippers climb Mount Hayama to recite ritual incantations (norito). There, an officiant known as the のりわら / ノリワラ noriwara acts as a medium for oracles predicting the weather, harvest and calamities for the coming year.
- source : kokugakuin Mogi Sakae -

黒沼神社 Kuronuma Jinja
福島市松川町金沢 Fukushima, Matsukawa, Kanezawa

- more photos:
- reference source : ameblo.jp/idjericho... -

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相馬郡 Soma district 飯館村 Iitate

Hayama no Kami 葉山の神 Kami of Hayama (羽山の神託)
The Noriwara wears white robes and a white headband and swings a heisoku 幣束 ritual wand.
The villagers built a ritual fire in a place separated with sacred ropes on four green bamboo poles. The Noriwara swings his ritual wand through the flames for purification (hi o shimesu火をしめす). Often the Noriwara himself jumps over the flames.

He answers to all kinds of questions:
Will I have to become a soldier and go to the army?
Will I get ill next year?
When asked, the Noriwara swings his ritual wand heavily up and down and waits till the Kami of Hayama has slipped into his body.
Then he swings the wand up and knees on the floor in reverence (神あがる kami agaru).
Now all present chant a purification prayer:
sange sange rokkon shojo さんげさんげろっこんしょうじょう.

When the Noriwara gets some salt water to drink, he comes back to his sense.
He takes a short rest and then answers to the questions of the next villager.
This ritual lasts the whole night.
At the end the Noriwara swings his wand again through the flames (hi o shimesu 火をしめす).

Then all take the offerings, go to the shrine and have a feast of the food offerings.
The ritual wand can now be placed at the entrance of a horse shed to keep the animals healthy.

The selection of a villager for Noriwara is done with great care.
Once the man had been effective, he will be chosen again and again.
A very clever and learned person is not suited for this sacred post.

If a person does not show respect for the rituals, the Noriwara might call out loud that this person will fall down near the fire.

Once a Noriwara became ill on the day of the rituals and could not attend. One of the villagers assembled at the shrine begun to pray and then became possessed by the Kami.
He jumped up and down, up and down.

Once a man called the oracle of the のりわら Noriwara a lie and laughed loud.
On the afternoon of this day it begun to rain and there was great flooding.

..............................................................................................................................................
福島市 Fukushima city 松川町 Matsukawa
Matuskawa is a small town outside of Fukushima City,

hayama no shintaku 羽山の神託 divination at Hayama
Kami from other mountains sometimes come for a visit and the Noriwara has to welcome them and see them off, one after the other.
Sometimes if Hayama no Kami can not show, they can take his turn during the oracle.
Sometimes it is 稲荷 Inari san, sometimes 水神 Suiji, the Kami of Water.

On Mount Hayama in 金沢 Kanezawa hamlet, people stay and pray for divination:
How will the weather be? How will the harvest turn out?
According to the divination, they make their plans for the coming year.

..............................................................................................................................................

One more 葉山神社 Hayama Jinja in Koriyama

福島県郡山市大槻町葉山39 / Fukushima, Koriyama, Otsukimachi, Hayama

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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04/01/2018

Yamanokami taiko drum legends

The big drum is often used for festival music.
. taiko, oodaiko 大鼓、太鼓、大太鼓 big drum .

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. Yamanokami and Tengu 天狗 the Mountain Goblin .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

kamikakushi 神かくし mysterious disappearance
If a child did not come home and was nowhere to be found, in former times people thought they have been abducted by a Tengu or by Yamanokami. Villagers went out with bells and drums to search for them. Parents also warn their children not to play hide and seek in the evening any more, in case they may disappear.

............................................................................　Aichi 愛知県
.......................................................................
知多郡 Chita district 美浜町 Mihama

. Tengu sama no isami 天狗様のいさみ flute melody of Tengu .

............................................................................　Kochi 高知県
.......................................................................
幡多郡 Hatta district 大正町 Taisho

taiko 太鼓
In the hamlet of 芳川部落 Hogawa on the other side of the valley they can heard the sound of a big drum at night from about 9 to 10.
They asked a priest for advise. He told them that Yamanokami was angry and that soon something bad would happen to the mountain. They called a special saint to perform rituals of appeasement and the sound of the drum stopped!

.......................................................................
高岡郡 Takaoka district 窪川町 Kubokawa

taiko 太鼓
In a cave called 太鼓堂 Taiko-Do, Drum Hall, the sound of a big drum was heard every month on the 20th day of the old lunar calendar. Wild animals came to play in the water puddles around the cave.
The clever hunters came at night to shoot their pray.

............................................................................　Nagasaki 長崎県

Tengu
When people hear the sound of rinrin like festival flutes and big drums, they say
"Yama no Kami is dancing!"
Others say tengubayashi 天狗ばやし a group of Tengu with festival instruments are passing.

- Two more legends about the Tengubayashi from 茨城県 Ibaraki

多賀郡 Taga district 黒前村 Kurosaki village and 高岡村 Takaoka village
The villgers sometimes hear the Tengubayashi, often from 1 to 2 in the morning.
In Takaoka village there has been a huge landslide on the mountain top, where the Tengu is now venerated.
If it rains for a long time in Takaoka, they say the Tengu is having a festival and beats the big drums.

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

Ta no kami 田の神
Before cutting the weeds around the fields, the farmers walk around the fields with bells and big drums to chase away the insects and animals (虫送りの行事 mushi-okuri).
This is the day when Tanokami comes down to the fields, so the farmers take a rest and say prayers in his honor.

............................................................................　Saitama 埼玉県
.......................................................................
秩父郡 Chichibu district 大滝村 Otaki

Yamanokami ga sawagu 山の神が騒ぐ Yamanokami is making noises
Sometimes Yamanokami makes a loud noise with flute and big drums in the early morning hours.

............................................................................　Toyama 富山県

Tengu 天狗
The words "Tengu" and "Yamanokami" are not said directly, people just say アノヒト "ano hito", "that person".
yatsudaikouchi ヤツダイコウチ means the Tengu beats a large drum with eight colors.
If people hear the sound and go to the forest, they are usually lucky to hunt a bear.
- - - - -
Once a man was taking care of a place all by himself when he heard the sound of the big drum from Yamanokami. It sounded like two beating the drum, Yamanokami and a Tengu.
He was quite amused and did not feel lonely any more.
On cloudy days, the drumming can even be heard during lunchtime.

.......................................................................
東砺波郡 Higashi-Tonami district 城端町 Johan

ヤマノバーバノタイコ，Yamanbaaba no taiko and マトギ matogi
If a Tengu beats the big drum or a mujina 狢 badger gets excited and beats his stomach, the villagers call it Yamanbaaba no taiko ヤマノバーバノタイコ, the mountain hag beating the big drum.
If it can be heard in the evening of a spring day, this is the sign of a good harvest in the coming year.

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference source : nichibun yokai database -

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

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sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- #yamanokami #godofthemountains #taikodrum #drumlegends -
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03/01/2018

Yamanokami kitsune fox legends

赤鬼狐(せきこ) 山神少女

. kitsune densetsu 狐　伝説 fox legends .

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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

豊田市 Toyota

kitsune 狐 a fox
Once a man regularly had the urge to defecate at a place sacred to Yamanokami. Every time as he squatted, he heard a strange sound of petapeta petapeta.
When he came next time, the faeces were gone, someone had eaten them. And sometimes he saw a beautiful young temple acolyte walking by.
Once he peeked between his legs and saw a fox, standing on his front legs, wiggeling with his tail, waiting for the feces - food.

............................................................................ Fukushima 福島県

相馬郡 Soma district 飯舘村 Iitate

shiro-ookami 白狼，shiro-gitsune, shirogitsune 白狐 white wolf, white fox
源頼朝 Minamoto no Yoritomo wanted to defeat a family called Sumitora 墨虎 "Black Tiger".
He brought a Mountain Deity 山神 Yamanokami and an Inari Deity 稲荷神 all the way from Kyoto and prayed for seven days and nights, with out food or sleep.
On the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, a white wolf and a white fox appeared and their footprints lead to a small sanctuary for Sanno 山王祠 high up in the forest.
He thought that was a hint from the Deities, started the battle and won it.

. Minamoto no Yoritomo 源頼朝 . - (1147 – 1199)

............................................................................　Gifu 岐阜県
武儀郡 Mugi district 板取村 Itadori

Some people say Yamanokami himself is a kitsune 狐 fox!

............................................................................　Kumamoto 熊本県

yamawaroo ヤマワロ Yamawaro Kappa
Some people say that the Yamawaro is also a 山ん神さん Yama'n Kami San, Yamanokami.
Others say he is just one rank below the real Yamanokami.
He does not play tricks on the humans, as the fox or Tanuki badger does.

. やまわろ / ヤマワロ / 山童 Yama waro "child of the mountain" .

............................................................................　Nara 奈良県

磯城郡 Shiki district

kitsune no yomeiri 狐の嫁入 fox as a bride
Every year on the third day of the New Year the fox takes a bride and Yamanokami is coming down to 天神山 Mount Tenjinyama to look at the lanterns of their procession.
If there are many lanterns there will be a good harvest this year.
If there are few lanterns there will be a bad harvest this year.

. kitsune no yome-iri　狐の嫁入り "the fox taking a bride" .

.......................................................................
大柳生町 Oyagyucho

. Tanokami 田の神 and the fox .

............................................................................　Shiga 佐賀県

. kitsune and 稲荷様 the rice Deity Inari sama .

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

那須郡 Nasu district 大山田村 Oyamada
Once Yamanokami was angry and ordered the fox to kill a child.
Even as the mother held the baby in her arms, it disappeared mysteriously and was later found dead in the well.

............................................................................　Yamanashi 山梨県

道志村 Doshi

kitsune no koe 狐の声 voice of the fox
Yamanokami calls out ofui ofui オフイオフイ; this is the voice of a fox.

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference source : nichibun yokai database -

. Abe no Seimei 阿倍晴明 (921 - 1005) .
and his mother, the white fox Kuzu no ha, Kuzunoha　葛の葉

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- - - - - . Join the Updates of Facebook ! . - - - - -

. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- #yamanokami #godofthemountains #yamanokamikitsune #yamanokamifox -
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01/01/2018

Yamanokami Tanokami collecting

. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
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- collecting for Yamanokami and Tanokami -

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Tanokami Jinja "田の神神社"
. Iwate 岩手県 Tono .

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- Saitama 埼玉県 -

山の神

田の神

境内の妙見堂階段下に山の神(やまのかみ)の社があります。元々は近くの林の中に祀られていました。

埼玉県飯能市（はんのうし）平松376番地 // 376 Hiramatsu, Hanno-shi, Saitama
- reference source : 円泉寺 Ensen-Ji -

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- #collecting -
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shimenawa sacred rope legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .
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shimenawa 注連縄伝説　sacred rope - legends

You see a sacred rope at the entrance to a holy place, usually a Shinto shrine, to mark the entry into a sacred area.
They are also around sacred trees or rocks.
shimekazari 注連飾 sacred ropes for New Year decorations and many more
. shimenawa 注連縄 sacred rope - introduction .

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

.......................................................................
知多郡 Chita district 美浜町 Mihama

Yoshitomo no rei 義朝の霊 the spirit of Yoshitomo
In the family of 百合草光吉 Yurigusa Mitsuyoshi there is a special custom related to Yoshitomo.
They place four reed gras stems in a square and put a Shimenawa around. In the middle they place 風呂 a bath tub. On that night they welcome Yoshitomo at the gate of the estate, putting out lanterns and waring ritual robes and small swords. The head of the family then takes a bath. When he is finished, they use 拍子木 wooden clappers to inform the other villagers to come over and have a bath too. This is their way of never forgetting what happened to Yoshitomo, and pass the knowledge on to further generations.

. Minamoto no Yoshitomo 源義朝 (1123 – 1160) .

.......................................................................
知多郡 Chita district 南知多町 Minami-Chita

. sagichoo 左義長 Sagicho, ritual bonfire .
During these fire festivals around the 14 and 15 of January, the New Year decorations are burned, for example the sacred ropes.

....................................................................... Fukushima 福島県 .....
.......................................................................
南会津郡 Minami-Aizu district

. 天照大神 Amaterasu Omikami .
In the local dialect this deity is called
otentoo sama おてんとうさま O-Tento Sama, Honorable Sun
On the 16th day of the first and seventh lunar month, the hunters have a special festival. They hang Shimenawa in the living room and place mochi 餅 rice cakes to honor Amaterasu Omikami. The hunters stay in the room for one day and night, offering prayers. The rice cakes are then taken to the mountains. They are said to prevent mountain slides in the coming six months.

.......................................................................
南会津郡 Minami-Aizu district 檜枝岐村 Hinoemata village

For the New Year a new Shimenawa is bound together from seven ropes. If the end shows down to the ground, the year will bring rain. If the end shows up to the sky, there will be fine weather.
From the beginning of the rope, there are twelve months to be counted, each one with the aim to divine the weather of this month.
- - - - -
owanhagoki おわんはごき o-wan hagoki
People who are bad of hearing go to the old Katsura tree near the bridge. They bring an old bowl (o-wan), open a hole in it and put 麻糸 a hemp thread through it.
This custom is called o-wan hagoki.
Instead of a hemp thread they may use a Shimenawa. This is a spell to secure the help of 道祖神 the Dosojin deities (どうろく神 Dorokujin in local dialect).

.......................................................................
相馬郡 Soma district

hayari shoogatsu はやり正月 (取越正月 torikoshi shogatsu)
This is a New Year ritual in a different season (if misfortune had been hard and the villagers want to change the fate.)
The young folks hang a Shimenawa over the road to the village and the elders now take a rest from the usual farm work.
This custom is also called 盆正月 bon shogatsu.
It was often held on the first day of the second or sixth lunar month. It was popular in the Edo period as a means to get one holiday.

.......................................................................
須賀川市 Sukagawa

shiryoo 死霊，ikiryoo 生霊 "dead soul, living soul"
wakasama ワカサマ Waka Sama is the name of a female divner who can tell the cause of a disease or death.
At the park 狸森 Mujinamori there was such an old woman of about 70 years. She was blind and wore black robes.
She sat in a corner of the Shrine 蟇目鹿島神社 Hikime Kashima Jinja, set up with four bamboo poles and a Shimenawa. Inside the sacred space she put a kamidana 神棚 shelf for the Gods to give the Gods a space to come down to and let her know the answer to the quest.
This also took place at a shrine for the deity 牛頭天王 Gozu Tenno.
. Gozu Tenno Legends 牛頭天王伝説 .

....................................................................... Hyogo 兵庫県 .....
.......................................................................
神戸市 Kobe

mii san みーさん the Mii deity
At 船坂の大岩（おほいし）the great rock of Funasaka people have a special belief.
They hang a Shimenawa all round the stone, built a small sanctuary on top of it and pray to 大岩龍大明神 the Dragon Deity of the Boulder.

The lord of this rock is seen as daija 大蛇 a large serpent.

....................................................................... Ishikawa 石川県 .....
.......................................................................
鹿島郡 Kashima district 能登町 Noto

Tengu 天狗
At the shrine 嶽神社 Dake Jinja there is a sacred 円丘 "round hill" which a Tengu had made in one night.
A villager had been up very early and heard the sound of leaves hitting the ground. The Tengu had mistaken this sound for a sign of the coming dawn and thrown the earth in the garden of that person.
This earth has become a mound and a pine grew on it. This is now called 天狗松 the Tengu Matsu.
During the Autumn festival, they place a Shimenawa around the tree and perform rituals.

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

kuro-unagi, shiro-unagi 黒鰻，白鰻 black eel, white eel
. unagibuchi ryuuoo 鰻淵龍王 the Dragon King of the Eel Pool .

.......................................................................
三豊郡 Mitoyo district 仁尾町 Nio

hai 灰 ashes
In the night from the 14th to the 15th day of the New Year people perform
okuri shoogatsu オクリショウガツ sending off the New Year.
They burn the Shimenawa and spread the ashes all around the home and estate. This will keep any 長虫 "long thing" , for example 蛇 a serpent, from coming in.
This custom is also known in other parts of Kagawa.

.......................................................................
坂出市 Sakaide

On the 14th day of the New Year (小正月) people get clean sand from the beach and put it in front of their gate. On this sand they burn the New Year decorations, Kadomatsu and Shimenawa. A large Shimenawa is carefully burned to one piece of coal, which is thrown on the roof, hoping to prevent fire in the coming year. This custom is called
okazaribayashi オカザリバヤシ　o-kazari-bayashi.

.......................................................................
多度津町 Tadotsu

. goshiki no tanzaku 五色の短冊 Tanzaku poetry slips of five colors .

....................................................................... Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
.......................................................................
大島郡 Oshima district

. densenbyo 伝染病と伝説 Legends about pandemics .

Once there was an outbreak of a pandemic in the village. So they put a guard house at the village entry and a large Shimenawa along the coast. Then the fishermen begun to shout"
"エンサエンサ ensa ensa".
Very soon there was mamono 魔物 a monster fleeing the village.

....................................................................... Nara 奈良県 .....
.......................................................................
吉野郡 Yoshino district 下北山村 Shimo-Kitayama

hakuja (shirohebi) 白蛇 white serpent
At Eboshi no taki, エボシ滝 / えぼしの滝 the Eboshidaki waterfall in エボシ谷 the Eboshi valley once there hang a white serpent like a Shimenawa at the top of the waterfall.
To keep it alive, people are not allowed to make a fire near the tail part of the serpent.

....................................................................... Saitama 埼玉県 .....
.......................................................................
大滝村 Otaki

There are many folk believes in the village about serpents.
If a rat starts to nibble at the Shimenawa of the kamidana 神棚 shelf of the gods there will soon be a fire.
If one sees a serpent climbing up the mountain path (ノボリヘビ nobori hebi ), this will bring good luck. Seeing a yamakagashi ヤマカガシ（Rhabdophis tigrinus）is especially auspicious.
The first serpent seen in a year is called ハツヘビ hatsu hebi.
If it faces the human, that will bring good luck for the whole year.
If it faces the other direction, this will bring bad luck.
If one sees aodaisho 青大将 (Elaphe climacophora) in the first dream of the year and if this serpent is swallowing a frog, this means one does not have to worry about food for the coming year.

....................................................................... Tokushima 徳島県 .....
.......................................................................
麻植郡 Oe district 山川町 Yamakawa

hi 火 fire
On the 15th day of the New Year (小正月) people take off the Shimenawa and bring it to 氏神 the family shrine. Then it is burned in the front yard.
Touching this fire slightly will prevent a person from falling ill in the coming year.

....................................................................... Toyama 富山県 .....
富山市 Toyama city

Tengu 天狗
There was a home where a Tengu lived. They had put a Shimenawa in the garden around the 松 pine tree.
The Tengu sometimes ate their 鮭 salmon or kidnapped their children.

..............................................................................................................................................

shimekazari 注連飾 sacred rope decoration for New Year

- reference : nichibun yokai database -
注連縄　天狗 // シメナワ // しめなわ // 注連縄　蛇 // ok
54 注連縄 (01)
23 注連飾 shimekazari (00) - new entry

. Tengu to matsu 天狗と松 Legends about the Tengu pine .

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. Join the Shimenawa friends on Facebook ! .

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08/11/2017

Yama no Kami Festivals matsuri

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
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Yama no Kami matsuri 山の神祭り Yamanokami festivals
おやまのかみさままつり O-Yama no Kami Sama Matsuri
山の神祭り（やまんかんまつり) Yamankan Matsuri
山神祭 Sanjinsai - やまのかみさい Yamanokami sai
Juunikoo matsuri 十二講まつり Juniko Matsuri

. ta no kami matsuri 田の神祭り Tanokami festivals and rituals .
Including some for Yamanokami.
- Fukui, Wakasa no Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り

- Kigo for early winter
. yama no kami matsuri 山の神祭 festival for the god of the mountain .
yama no kami matsuri 山の神祭 festival for the god of the mountain
yama no maki koo 山の神講 prayer group for the god of the mountain
..... yama no koo 山の講 / 山ノ神講（やまのこう）Yamanokami prayer group
yama no ko matsuri 山の講祭 festival of the prayer group for the god of the mountain
Held in the winter months at various shrines.
The prayer groups consisted of people who worked in the mountains. They had offerings twice a year, in early spring to open the season and in early winter to give thanks for the year.

Most festivals are held on the day 16 of a lunar month, one day after the full moon
. izayoi 十六夜 (いざよい) moon on day 16 .
In Spring to welcome Yama no Kami to the fields
In Autumn to see him off to the mountain.
Many rituals involve the offering of 16 rice dumplings.

. juuroku dango 十六団子 dumpling offerings for day 16 .

Some dates are given in the old lunar calendar, some in the modern version.

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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

Sanjinsai 山神祭
People carry home some branches with flames from the festival bonfire - and there has never been a damaging fire in the village.
Even if sparks fall on dry leaves or grass, they will not cause a fire.
If people drink ritual sake and mochi rice cakes on top of the mountain to venerate Yamanokami, they will not get ill all summer.

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知多郡 Chita district 南知多町 Minami-Chita

mikigura 神酒倉 storehouse for ritual Sake
In 中洲 Nakasu there are eight families who prepare ritual sake (miki　神酒) for Shinto rituals.
Once there was a huge fire in Nakasu and most of the homes burned to the ground.
But the Storehouse in the middle of the village was spared !

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南設楽郡 Minami-Chitara district 長篠村 Nagashino

yamagami matsuri 山神祭 festival for Yamanokami
During the festival, a ritual fire is made and the villagers leave for home while the flames are still high. But there has never been a fire in the village.
The flames of the sacred fire also do not cause a fire in the woods, even if they fall on dry leaves or branches.
On top of the mountain villagers make offerings of Sake and mochi 餅 rice cakes and partake of the food afterwards. Thus they will not get ill in summer.
If they can see 伊勢の神島 Kamishima of Ise in Mie, there will be a good harvest and good fishing.

............................................................................ Ehime 愛媛県
上浮穴郡 Kamiukena district 久万町 Kuma

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭
The festival is on the 9th day of June. It is celebrated near a big tree between two villages. To cut down this tree will bring bad luck.
Every month on the 9th day the lumberjacks will not go into the mountain to cut trees.

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西条市 Saijo
山の神の祭りは旧正月５日・９月９日である。大きな木・枝が上で引っ付いている木・マタになっている木は、山の神の木なので切らないという。山の神の木をオサンバイサンという。山の神の木を切ると顔面蒼白になり、めまいなどを起こす。北向きに座らせて箕で３回仰ぐと治るが、これをミカジ（箕加持）という。

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内子町 Uchiko

Yamanokami no Hi Matsuri 山の神の火祭り Yamanokami Fire Festival

六角山の真下に幻想的に浮かび上がる“山ノ神”の火文字と5,000灯のオヒカリが灯されます。
文政6年から180年にわたり連綿と受け継がれて来た伝統には､山の幸と秋の豊作を祈る思いが込められています。田園に広がる夜景もさることながら、寺村商店街には、数多くの夜店が軒を連ね、花火大会・喜鼓里太鼓の演奏・カラオケ大会など祭りムード一色に染まります。
- reference source : town.uchiko.ehime.jp/soshiki... -

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

In many parts of Fukui,
the 6th day of the 12th lunar month is Yamanokami festival and on this day the weather is usually quite rough.
People who make a living from the mountain forests venerate Yamanokami in the Tokonama alcove of their homes. They decorate it with axes, saws and sickles.
Since Yamanokami is counting the trees in the forest on this day, they will never go to the forest, fearing the deity might turn them in a tree if he sees them.

. 山ノ神講 Yamanokami prayer group .
遠敷郡 Onyu district 名田庄村 Natasho

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武生市 Takefu 坂口村 Sakaguchi

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 9th day of January and December. Yamanokami is quite wild and usually brings frost and snow on these days.
Some people have seen Yamanokami to ride past on a white horse on these days.
. Yamanokami riding 白馬 a white horse .

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敦賀市 Tsuruga

. Akasaki 赤崎 Akasaki prayer group .
yama no kami koo 山の神講 prayer group for the god of the mountain / kanko (かんこ)

............................................................................ Fukushima 福島県
南会津郡 Minami-Aizu district 檜枝岐村 Hinoe

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
If something unfortunate happens in the mountains, the hunters go back to the village and start the festival all over again (matsuri naoshi まつりなおし).
They bring the head and breast bones of a bear as offerings, sometimes even the heart of a bear as a ritual dish for Yamanokami.

............................................................................ Hyogo 兵庫県

. 山の神の祟り the curse of Yamanokami .

. festival at 香美町香住区沖浦 / Kasumiku Okinoura, Kami, Mikata .

............................................................................ Ibaraki 茨城県
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北都留郡 Kita-Tsuru district 小菅村 Kosuge

Every month on the 17th day there is a festival for Yamanokami for the forest workers. The 17th day of the 12th lunar month is especially venerated.
The other villagers celebrate in spring on the 17th day of the first lunar month and in autumn on the 10th lunar month. On these days Yamanokami shoots arrows in the woods and forest workers must take a rest.
On the festival days, villagers prepare special offerings of buckwheat cakes and place them on the trunk of a cut-down tree.

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西茨城郡 Nishi Ibaraki district 岩瀬町 Iwase

Sanjinsai 山神祭
The day of the festival is the 15th day of the 11th lunar month. The straw rope around the sacred tree is burned. Eating fish grilled at this fire will prevent getting a cold in winter.

............................................................................ Iwate 岩手県
雫石町 Shizukuishi

Yamanokamisama no o-matsuri ヤマノカミ様のお祭り
At the village 南畑 / ミナミハタ Minamihata they have a festival in honor of Yamanokami. They all come together, a furoshiki 風呂敷 cloth wrapper around the head, dancing in the Shrine compound and then fall asleep all together, a custom known as zakone 雑魚寝.
This is also called daki matsuri 抱き祭 festival of embracing each other.
If people do not do it, the growth of asa 麻 hemp will be bad in the coming year.

. zakone 雑魚寝 sleeping together .
"group sleep" - "like all kind of fish", all crowded together

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

. 山の神，猿，犬 Yamanokami, monkey and dog .
The 9th day of February and December are set for rituals of Yamanokami.

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東蒲原郡 Higashikanbara 鹿瀬町 Kanose

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 9th day of February and December.
The 9th day is 山の神の木調べの日 the day when Yamanokami inspects the trees.

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東蒲原郡 Higashikanbara 津川町 Tsugawa

. Yamanokami oroshi 山の神おろし for the festival .
kamioroshi, kami oroshi カミオロシ / 神おろし / 神降ろし "calling a Kami to earth" for an oracle

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糸魚川市 Itoigawa

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
If people go to the mountain on the festival day of the second and 12th lunar month, they will never come back.

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岩船郡 Iwafune district 朝日村 Asahi

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
On February and December. The 12th day is called
山の神の木種蒔きの日 - Day when Yamanokami is planting seedlings of trees
.
On the 12th day of the 12th lunar month, they call a Yamabushi 山伏 mountain priest from 山形県小国町 Oguni village in Yamagata. He puts a sacred rope around the festival altar in the home of the tooya 頭屋 "head of the festival" / 当屋. The men of the village are dressed as shrine acolytes, have their eyes blindfold and hold a ritual wand while the Yamabushi recites the 陀羅尼 Darani Sutra. Next the villagers hit the floor with a stick while chanting the 心経 Heart Sutra. Some kind of oracle is performed, asking about the hunting season and other village affairs.
shiratsuke シラツケ or shiramono tsuke シラモノツケ.
This custom has been abolished in the early Taisho period (1912).

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刈羽郡 Kariwa district 小国町 Oguni

「十二講」まつり Juniko Matsuri

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 12th day of the third lunar month. The people celebrating belong to the juunikko ジュウニッコウ（十二講) Junikko.
Everyone in the village takes a rest. If someone dares to go to the forest, he will be punished by Yamanokami.
Going to the forest on the day before the festival, one has to get a purification ritual from a special priest, 太夫様 Tayu sama.
People who do not follow the Junikko rituals are not allowed to go to the forest in spring to gather firewood.

. juunisama, jūni sama 十二様 Juni Sama - Yamanokami .

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新潟市 Niigata city 西蒲区 Nishi-Kan district

. Festival at 角田山の中腹 half-way to Mount Kakudayama .

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南蒲原郡 Minamikanbara 下田村 Shitada

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 9th day of February and December.
On the ninth day Yamanokami is sowing seedlings 種蒔きの日.
On the 12th day is the New Year for Yamanokami, where he goes 木調べ to inspect the trees.

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三島郡 Mishima district 三島町 Mishima

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
On the 9th day of February and December.
On this day the villagers are not allowed to use saws, sickles, howes and other tools.
Since Yamanokami is a female deity, they never make a knot in the rope around the charcoal hut with the binding of men 男結び.

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中頚城郡 Nakakubiki district 清里村 Kiyosato

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 8th day of February, and also called Miyama ミヤマ "Honorable Mountain".
If there are clouds in the moutain forest on this day, the harvest will be bad.

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佐渡郡 Sado district 相川町 Aikawa

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 9th day of February.
On this day Yamanokami is shooting arrows and nobody can enter the mountain forest.

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............................................................................ Tottori 鳥取県
岩美郡 Iwami district 岩美町 Iwami

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 9th day of February and October.
On these days Yamanokami walks through the forest and counts the trees. If a human is in the forest, he will be counted as a tree and die.
In the 荒金集落 Arakane hamlet, Yamanokami is giving birth, so nodody can go to the mountain. If anyone does, he will meet monsters and become crazy for the rest of his life.

............................................................................ Toyama 富山県
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氷見市 Himi

Sanjinsai 山神祭
On this festival day, Yamanokami gets drunk and nobody is allowed to disturb him.

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南砺市 Nanto city

Tengu han 天狗ハン Mister Tengu - Sanjinsai 山神祭
On the day of the festival, the charcoal makers take a rest, come together and offer ゴヘイモチ Goheimochi rice cakes and buri no sashimi ブリの刺身 Sashimi of yellowtail to the Tengu.
Once a man went into the forest to cut a tree, but was hit 睾丸 in the testicles by a branch of a tree and died.

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西砺波郡 Nishi-Tonami district 福岡町 Fukuoka

Yamanokami 山の神 / Sanjinsai 山神祭
On the festival day, Yamanokami inspects the mountian and humans are not allowed to go there.
They also should not use tools with blades on this day.

............................................................................ Yamagata 山形県
西村山郡 Nishimurayama district

Yamanokami Matsuri 山の神祭り
The festival is on the 17th day of March. On this day people do not go to the mountain. If they do and happen to meet Yamanokami, they will have bad luck for the rest of their life.

Another festival day for Yamanokami is the 12th day of the third and 12th lunar month.

............................................................................ Yamaguchi 山口県

Sanjinsai 山神祭
The day of the festival is the 26th day of the 2nd lunar month.
People bring yamaimo 山芋 yam as offerings, but they are not allowed to whistle in the compound or underground in the coal mines. To kill a dog was forbidden.
There were other taboos concerning the tankoo 炭鉱 coal mines.

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- - - - - Yamanokami as the protector deity of the coal mines.

古河好間炭鉱山神祭（昭和20年) Koga Yoshima Tanko Saijinsai Festival
Fukushima

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- reference source : nichibun yokai database -

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

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sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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