hi no kami fire legends

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. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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Hi no Kami, Hinokami 火の神 Deity of Fire - Legends
Kajin 火神

. 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 .


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 .....
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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 .....
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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 .....
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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 .....
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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 .....
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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 .....
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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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mizunokami unagi legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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Mizunokami to unagi 水の神とうなぎ / 鰻 Deity of Water and Eel Legends

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

. unagi うなぎ /　鰻 と伝説 Legends about the eel .


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　 .....
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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 .....
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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 .....
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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 .....
.......................................................................
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　 .....
.......................................................................
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　 .....
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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 - .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #mizunokamieel #eelmizunokami #unagi -
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mizu no kami water legends

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

. Mizu no Kami 水の神 Deity of Water / Suijin 水神 .
- Introduction -

水神様 / スイジンサマ Suijin Sama


venerated in Katsuyama, Okayama


- Another name for this deity is
. Ido no Kami 井戸の神 / Idogami 井戸神 Deity of the Well .

. kawa no kami 川の神と伝説 Legends about the "River Deity" .

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. Uma to Mizu no Kami 馬と水の神 Mizunokami and Horse Legends .

. Unagi to Mizu no Kami 鰻と水の神 Mizunokami and Eel Legends .

- - - A dragon is often seen as Mizunokami.
. ryuu, ryū 龍 / 竜 と伝説　Ryu - dragon legends .

- - - A serpent is often seen as Mizunokami.
. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .

- - - The Kappa is often seen as Mizunokami Suijin
. suijin 水神 河童 Kappa as water deity .
and Kappa Jinja　河童神社 Kappa Shinto Shrines

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- quote -
Kanahebisui Shrine

Located in Iwanuma City in Miyagi Prefecture, Kanahebisui Shrine boasts a long history spanning 1000 years.
The name Kanahebisui is spelled as "gold, serpent, and water" in Japanese, hence visitors come to worship the golden serpent enshrined here in prayer for good financial fortune and business prosperity.
The shrine also has a good reputation for a variety of flowers such as cherry trees, wisteria, peony and azalea that offer beautiful sceneries from spring through early summer. The breathtaking wisteria trellis that is said to be 300 years old, as well as the garden with approximately 1,300 peony trees, please a great number of visitors in each season.
- source : ana.co.jp/en/jp/japan-travel-planner... -




Kogane Suijin Sake 黄金水神酒 　
from 金蛇水神社 Kanahebisui Jinja, Kanahebisui Shrine
宮城県岩沼市 Miyagi, Iwanuma city.

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. kani 蟹 crab, Krabbe .
People who believe in 金毘羅権現 Konpira Gongen think that crabs are messengers of Mizunokami.
When they make a wish, they stop eating crabs until it is fulfilled. Some have never eaten a crab in their whole life.

. Konpira Daigongen . 金毘羅大権現 .




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




............................................................................　Fukuoka 福岡県
.......................................................................
みやま市 Miyama city 瀬高町 Setaka machi town

Suijin sama スイジンサマ, the Kappa
The Idogami 井戸神 God of the Well is also called Suijin Sama.
Its festival is on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month and called
Kappa San Matsuri 河童さん祭り Festival of Kappan San.
People make special offerings of salt, small sardines a
nd rice packed in large bamboo leaves and add some Sake poured into bamboo tubes.




............................................................................　Fukushima 福島県
.......................................................................
いわき市 Iwaki city

mochi 餅 rie cakes for Suijin Sama
On the New Years day people make offerings of mochi 餅 rice cakes, put red chopsticks into them and fasten a mizuhiki 水引 auspicious paper string around it.
This offering is hung on the jizai kagi 自在かぎ / 自在鈎 pot hook over the open hearth.
When the whole family gathers around the hearth, someone takes it of secretly and eats the rice cake to become a strong man.



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

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

On the way to the village Shrine of the village, there is a stone called
Hashiba no baa sama 橋場のばあ様 the old woman at the bridge .
She is the messenger of the Water Deity. People come here to pray for prevention of water accidents.

- Hashiba no Banba 橋場のばんば -

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十念寺 Temple Junen-Ji
福島県須賀川市




............................................................................　Ibaraki 茨城県
.......................................................................
竹原村 Takehara village

. Kappazuka 河童塚 Mound for Kappa .




............................................................................　Ishikawa 石川県
.......................................................................
鳳至郡 Hosu district 門前町 Monzen

daija 大蛇 a huge serpent
In the upper stream of the river 五十洲川 Igisugawa there is a deep river pool where people perform amagoi 雨乞い rain rituals.
The Mizunokami was seen as a huge serpent.
Once this serpent wanted to get a young woman from the village. The parents of the girl made a doll and put some poison inside. They left the doll on the river side and the huge serpent ate it - and then died.




............................................................................　Kagawa 香川県
.......................................................................
東かがわ市 Higashi-Kagawa city

Suijin Sama does not like metal things, so they must not be thrown into water.





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

. Legends about the Kappa 河童伝説 from Kyushu.

.......................................................................
熊毛郡 Kumage district 上屋久町 Kamiyaku town

suijin sa 水人サア Suijin Sama (in the local dialect)
In the local river lives a Kappa, called ガラッパ Garappa in the local dialect.
Many years ago a fisherman was stolen his mussels and fish by this Kappa.
If people make offerings of salt and rice to 川の水神様 the Mizu no Kamisama, Water Deity of the River, they will have no accidents.
If one coughs loud to announce his presence before going into the river or the sea for fishing, Suijin will not be taken by surprize and not curse anyone.

.......................................................................
川内市 Sendai city 向田町 Mukoda town

suijin sekizoo 水神石像，Garappa ガラッパ
There is a large statue of Mizunokami in the village which resembles very much the local Garappa Kappa.

.......................................................................
曽於郡 Soo district

Suijin Sama スイジンサマ -
names for the Kappa ガラッパサン Garappa san，ガラッパドン Garappa Don
Garappa don steals cucumbers to eat and pulls children into the river.
Until around 1950 on the day of the Spring Equinox, people could hear a voice like a bird, ピーピー piipii and thought that Suijin Sama is now coming down from the mountains to the river (like Yamanokami and Tanokami).
People can not see the deity, but the sound is frightening and they can not sleep.
In Autumn, when the Deity goes back from the river to the mountain, the villagers do not hear any soune.

.......................................................................
鹿児島市 Kagoshima city

山の神様 Yama no Kami Sama and 水神様 Suijin Sama
Once a hunter was in the mountains when his wife gave birth to a boy. A few years later on the 16th day of the 5th lunar month, Suijin Sama would come to get the baby, but the clever father bound the boy tight to a pole and all was fine.
On this day people also write the name of their children on a cucumber, a special food of Kappa san, and throw it into the river as an offering.


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





............................................................................　Kumamoto 熊本県
.......................................................................
球磨郡 Kuma district 多良木町 Taragi town

- - - - - names for the Kappa
ガワッパ Gawappa，水神様　Suijin sama，ヤマンタロウ　Yama-n-Taro，カワンカミサン Kawa-n-Kami San
People make offerings of dango 団子 rice dumplings for the River Festival and later eat them at home to be protected from mischieves of the River Kappa.
This River Kappa goes back to the mountain forest in Autumn.
.
At the temple 青蓮寺 Shoren-Ji
They celebrate and get 水神の札 an amulet from Suijin on the first day of the second and 12th month of the lunar calendar.
To prorect them from water accidents, the villagers make mochi 餅 rice cakes, write the ritual name of Kobo Daishi 南無大師遍照金剛 on paper to wrap the rice cakes and place them on a stone by the river or throw them into the river.







............................................................................　Miyagi 宮城県
.......................................................................
本吉町 Motoyoshi town

mizu no kami san 水の神さん
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.

. Legends about Jizo Bosatsu - 地蔵菩薩 .





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

. Legends about the Kappa 河童伝説 from Kyushu.

.......................................................................
東臼杵郡 Higashi-Usuki district 西郷村 Nishigo village

Hyoosubo ヒョウスボ Hyosubo (a name for Kappa)
Hyosubo is seen as Mizunokami. In Autumn he goes up to the mountains, in Spring he comes down to the river (just like Yamanokami and Tanokami).
When he is up in the mountains, he sometimes calls 「ヒョー」 hyoooo.

.......................................................................
都城市 Miyakonojo

gaguresan ガグレサン a Kappa 河童
When giving birth it is best to have three deities near by:
鬼子母神 Kishibojin, 箒神様 Hokigami and 水の神様 Mizunokami (in his form as Gagure san).





............................................................................　Niigata 新潟県
.......................................................................
新発田市 Shibata city

Suijin sama 水神様
On the 15th day of the 11th lunar month, people express their gratitude for water.
They make offerings and place them near their ido 井戸 well and along the slope on the beach on branches of the
enoki 榎 nettle tree. To prevent them from meeting any monsters, the villagers do not look back at the tree on their way home.

. enoki 榎 nettletree, Chinese hackberry tree .




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

Yamanokami 山の神 and hachi daikoojin 八大荒神 eight great wild deities
The eight great wild deities are venerated at the temple 遍照寺 Hensho-Ji on top of 光明山 Mount Komyosan. The mountain has two peaks and between them is a pond.
In former times people saw a strange light in the pond and thought is must be Yamanokami or Mizunokami.
Later they thought it might have been a large serpent.

.......................................................................
真庭市 Maniwa city

. Legends about the Kappa 河童伝説 .
suijin no kodomo 水神の子供 the child of Mizunokami
Since olden times Kappa is seen as the child of Mizunokami. In Northern Okayama he is called
ゴンゴ Gongo.
Along the coast of Kojima he is called
ゴンゴージ Gongooji
In Maniwa, Yubara city is a river pool called
赤子淵 / 赤子ヶ淵 Akagobuchi, Riverpool of the Baby.
If someone passes here alone, he can hear the voice of a crying baby - and then Gongo is coming out, they say.




............................................................................　Okinawa 沖縄県
.......................................................................

kinmamon 君真物 / キンマモン a female serpent deity
The character jin 壬 represents water.
To pray for enough rain for a good harvest, people invite 太陽神 a sun deity テルコ Teruko, who can control fire and water at the same time.
On many islands the Deity of the Sea 海神 (Kaijin, Wadazumi) is also seen as the Mizunokami.

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

A kooro 香炉 incense burner used especially by women is called
kuuru クール Kuru.
Kandin カンディン is a personal deity and like Kuru can be seen as Mizunokami.
Kuru is used by a few women together in prayer groups and when all of this group have died, after the funeral rites, it is disposed of.

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

Miti nu kan / anda min / nuchi ミディ・ヌ・カン・ヌチ
are various names for Mizunokami.
anda min （アンダ・ミン）/ anda mizu no nushi アンダ水の主 is Mizu no kami.




............................................................................　Nagano 長野県
.......................................................................
飯山市 Iiyama city

In the river there lives 水神様 Suijin Sama.

.......................................................................
東御市 Tomi city

maruiwa no kashi-wan 丸岩の貸し椀 .
A pious young couple had prayed to the 道祖神 Dosojin, wayside gods and a boy was born.
They wanted to celebrate, but did not have enough trays and bowls for the guests.
At night both saw a beautiful woman in their dreams (Mizunokami), who told them to write the number of trays and bowls on a piece of paper and throw the paper into a crack of the round rock.
They did as advised and next morning the trays and bowls were placed in front of the rock.
After the event they brought them back and the trays and bowls disappeared in no time.
Since then other villagers used the crack in the rock to get help. But then a wicked person did not bring them back and from that time on, no more things were lend for the villagers.

. Zenwanbuchi 膳椀淵 "river pool for trays and bowls". .

. Doosojin 道祖神 Dosojin, Dososhin - Legends about Wayside Gods .



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

If people eat the first harvest of kyuuri きゅうり cucumbers and to not offer them to 水神様 Suijin Sama, their children will have water accidents.
This Suijin Sama is a Kappa, who is known to like cucumbers.





............................................................................　Shiga 滋賀県
.......................................................................
甲賀郡 Koka district

. Mizunokami and Yamanokami 山の神 .
at shrine 笠山神社 / 瘡山神社 Kasayama Jinja





............................................................................　Wakayama 和歌山県
.......................................................................
日高郡 Hidaka district

. Mizunokami and Yamanokami 山の神 .
- counting trees and fish




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

. Mizunokami and Yabugami 藪神　/ ヤブガミ Kami of the thicket, .





............................................................................　Yamanashi 山梨県
.......................................................................
北都留郡 Kita-Tsuru district 小菅村 Kosuge village

Suijin Sama スイジンサマ
is the local name for Mizunokami.
He prevents the river from getting to wild and protects the wells.
When people have to work in a river, they they place a white sheet of paper and salt on a rock, with the inscription:
"Suijin sama, we have to remove this rock, so please go somewhere else."

.......................................................................
西山梨郡 Nishi-Yamanashi district 千代田村 Chioda village

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .
After having made a new straw roof, people venerate Tengu san, who is seen as Mizunokami, to protect the home from fire.
The ancestors of the yaneya 屋根屋 roof makers is the deity 猿田彦 Sarutahiko, the ancestor of the Tengu.


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

- reference source : nichibun yokai database -
水の神 / スイジンサマ - OK
246 水神 to collect

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sakana no bunkashi 魚の文化史 cultural history of fish
矢野憲一 Yano Kenichi (1938 - )

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. Umi no Kami 海の神 God of the Sea / 海神 Watatsumi, Wadatsumi, Kaijin .

. kookai shin, kookaishin 航海神 Kokaishin Deities of Seafarers .

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- #yamanokami #godofthemountains #tanokami #mizunokami #waterdeity -
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Ido no Kami well legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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Ido no Kami 井戸の神 / Idogami 井戸神 Deity of the Well

Another name for the
. Mizu no Kami, Mizunokami 水の神 Deity of Water .

水神様 / スイジンサマ Suijin Sama

venerated in Katsuyama, Okayama

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

furui no kami 井戸の神, furui kami, furuikami 古井神 Deity of the old well

source : ameblo.jp/takenichi...

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

Shrine 御井神社 Mii Jinja "the honorable well"
2518 Hikawacho Naoe, Izumo, Shimane / 斐川町



- quote -
Okuninushi and the Rabbit
..... in Hikawa is Mii Shrine, which has three wells on its grounds
that are said to have been used by Yagami-hime when she gave birth to the child she had with Okuninushi.
- source : japanesemythology... -


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

井戸の神聖化 - wikipedia

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

. sarashi i, sarashi-i . 晒井 さらしい cleaning the well .
well-cleaning, i zarai 井浚（いざらい）
ido zarai 井戸浚, 井戸浚い（いどざらい）
ido gae 井戸替（いどがえ）"changeing the well"
- idohori shi　井戸堀師 digging a well or making a new well



idobata kaigi　井戸端会議　debates (gossip) at the well
Women used to come to the village wells and designated places along rivers to do the laundry and the mental laundry (gossip)。

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

- - - The Kappa is often seen as Mizunokami, Suijin
. suijin 水神 河童 Kappa as a water deity .
and Kappa Jinja　河童神社 Kappa Shinto Shrines

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- Reference : 井戸の神


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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- - - - -　 H A I K U　 - - - - -

井戸神の遠くに見ゆる雑煮かな
Idogami no tooku ni miyuru zooni kana

斎藤夏風 Saito Kafu


雪明りして井戸神の鏡餅
yuki akari shite Idogami no kagami mochi

赤石明子 Akashi Akiko


source : fujiclean.co.jp/fujiclean/water...


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. kawaya no kami 厠の神 God of the Toilet .
厠神 Benjogami / Kookagami 後架神 Kokagami

The God of the Toilet is the Elder Sister,
The God of the Well, Shinzui san シンズイさん is the younger sister.
At the bottom of the Well fro Shinzui zanthere are three stones.
This deity does not like metal things. If something made of metal falls into the well and is not taken out very soon, people have to abandon this well and make a new one. If they do not, family members will get ganbyoo 眼病 eye disease.

. Legends about eye diseases .


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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .




....................................................................... Aichi 愛知県 .....
.......................................................................
豊田市 Toyota city 岩倉町 Iwakura town

Idogami sama 井戸神様
In 1881, a family had a performance in the home and then put a cover on the well for everybody to walk over. But this caused a curse of Idogami sama 井戸神様.
The mother of the family got crazy and begun to perform all day long. Grandmother had a toxic disease and when Grandfather went to 観音様 Kannon Sama to pray for her health, she felt better.




....................................................................... Fukuoka 福岡県 .....

. Suijin sama スイジンサマ, the Kappa Water Deity .
The Idogami 井戸神 God of the Well is also called Suijin Sama.




....................................................................... Hyogo 兵庫県 .....
.......................................................................
姫路市 Himeji city 飾磨郡 Shikama district

If someone places a knife on the kama 竈 hearth, Ido no Kamisama 井戸の神様 begins to cry.

. kama, kamado 竈 Legends about the kitchen hearth .




....................................................................... Ibaraki 茨城県 .....
.......................................................................
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 .

. fuku no kami 福の神 God of Good Luck .




....................................................................... Kagawa 香川県 .....
.......................................................................
三豊郡 Mitoyo district 詫間町 Takuma town

Before filling in an old well, there must be a purification ritual performed.
To make sure the Ido no Kami san 井戸の神さん can come back any time, there must be a bamboo pole in the ground. Ido no Kami can then slip through this pole and come and go as he pleases.




....................................................................... Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
.......................................................................
薩摩郡 Satsuma district 東郷町 Togo town

After a new well is made, there must be an offering of nasu 茄子 eggplants.
If this is not done, the Mizunokami will leave his tooth bite visible.



....................................................................... Kyoto 京都府 .....
.......................................................................
福知山市 Fukuchiyama city

If people stay too long near the well and talk and talk . . . the Ido no kami 井戸ノ神 gets angry and disappears.




....................................................................... Nagasaki 長崎県 .....
.......................................................................
西海市 Saikai city 西彼町 Seihi town

Ido no Kami is the same as 水神 Mizugami.
If someone in the family gets ill, Mizugami must be angry.
Making offerings of miki お神酒 ritual rice wine, shio 塩 salt and kome 米 rice grains will cure the person.





....................................................................... Wakayama 和歌山県 .....
.......................................................................
有田郡 Arida district 金屋町 Kanaya town

Ido no Kamisama is Suijin san 水神さん.
Once an old woman became a strong headache. A healer told her that she had not been respectful to Suijin san 水神さん.
She began to say her prayers regularly and was soon healed.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
井戸神 / 井戸の神 / イドガミ / 井戸ノ神 - ok

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- #idookami #welldeity #suijin #mizunokami -
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umi no kami sea legends

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
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Umi no Kami 海の神 God of the Sea
Watatsumi, Wadatsumi, Kaijin 海神

. The three deities of Wadatsumi 綿津見三神 .
The sea deity Ōwatatsumi no kami
Many legends related to dragons.

His messenger is the kujira 鯨 whale.

. kujira 鯨 whale, Walfisch .
- Introduction and haiku -

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海神神社 Kaijin Jinja
Nagasaki - 長崎県対馬市峰町木坂247 / 247 Minemachi Kisaka, Tsushima, Nagasaki
- reference source : shinto-jinja.jp... -


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- - - - - A legend known in many parts of Japan

. okoze 虎魚 / 鰧魚 / オコゼ stonefish .
Once 山の神と海の神 the Kami of the Mountain and the Kami of the Sea had a fight and because of Okoze,
Yamanokami, the Kami of the Mountain won.
Since that event, Yamanokami likes Okoze.


Okoze from Bizen Pottery


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.......................................................................　Kagawa 香川県　.....
.......................................................................
三豊郡 Mitoyo district 託間町 Takuma cho town

. ookami 狼 Okami, wolf legends .
At the Shrine 三崎神社 Misaki Jinja the wolf is venerated as the messenger of Uminokami. People are not supposed to look at this animal. His howling sounds like gooo-gooo.
A single wolf is the messenger of the deity, but if they come in a group, people have to take precautions.





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

Uminokami does not like umeboshi 梅干 dried salted plums, so fishermen should not throw the stones into the water.





.......................................................................　Kochi 高知県　.....

幡多郡 Hata district 大月町 Otsuki town

. Empress Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 - Legends .

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Once upon a time, a VERY LONG time,
whales lived on the mountains. When a whale moved its big body, the trees fell down and the plants were destroyed . . . the other animals on the mountain very much in distress. Yamanokami had observed this for some time and then called to Uminokami:
"Hey, God of the Sea, may I give the whale to you to take care of?"
"Sure, why not!" and thus the whale moved to the sea. ....
- reference source : minwa.fujipan.co.jp/area... -




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

In Kumamoto, ウミノカミ Uminokami is the same as the water goblin Kappa.
When a woman is ready to give birth soon, first they cook 白飯 white rice and put it in a bowl as an offering, put in the rom next to the woman. This is an offering for Uminokami.
If the family does not make this offering, Uminokami might come and get the baby.

. 河童 Kappa legends from Kumamoto　熊本県 .




.......................................................................　Mie 三重県　.....
.......................................................................
熊野市 Kumano city

same 鮫 shark
The 14th day of the 6th lunar month is the festival day for Uminokami, also called oojiro sama オオジロ様 Ojiro sama. The festival is also called
Uminokami is also called 磯辺さん Isobe san.
People prepare 3 or 7 shark fish as an offering and nobody goes into the sea on this day.

. same　鮫 (さめ) shark .




.......................................................................　Oita 大分県 .....

.......................................................................
国東郡 Kunisaki district 姫島村 Himeshima mura village

ryuuguu sama 竜宮様 dragon palace deity, Uminokami
Fishermen should not throw water after washing rice into the sea. They should keep it in a barrel and throw it on the land when they come home.
To muddy the sea water in an affront toward Uminokami and should not be done.

. ryuuguu 竜宮と伝説 Ryugo Legends about the Dragon Palace .

.......................................................................
白杵市 Usuki city

kujira 鯨 whale
In the year 1886, fishermen had caught a whale, but when they pulled it on the boat, it was already dead.
Since the whale is the messenger of Uminokami, they put its bones and 一文銭 one coin as an offering and made a fine funeral for the fish.





.......................................................................　Okinawa 沖縄県 .....

. Uminokami is Mizunokami 水の神 .






.......................................................................　Yamagata 山形県　.....

. Uminokami and Yamanokami having a fight. .


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- reference source : nichibun yokai database -
96 海神 to collect

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. Legends about Yamanokami 山の神と伝説　.

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

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

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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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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kami no ashiato

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kami no ashiato 神の足跡 / あしあと footprints of a Kami
kamisama no ashiato 神様の足あと

There are some boulders and rocks with this name.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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越前海岸の奇岩の伝説
Legend about a strange rock-formation on the Echizen coast
The footprint is about 5 m long and 2 m wide.
Once upon a time, farmers came here during a long period of drought and prayed for rain.
There was a voice promising "There will be water!" and from behind the cliff the footprints were visible.



- reference source : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/syoukousi4... -

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Legend says that 琵琶湖 Lake Biwako started as a footprint of the Kami.

日本の神話には、神様の足跡として琵琶湖は描かれている。
- reference source : www.2724.com/biwako... -


- reference source : sirokuronekotokuroneko...-


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There is a festival in the town of 塙町 Hanawa in Fukushima,
伊香おすわ様 Ika Osuwa Sama
It has a history of more than 200 years and was introduced to drive out illness like the plague.
About 10 young men 20 years of age get a purification ritual from the Shrine and then run around the village in the evening for about 4 hours. They wear white Tabi socks.
The young men prepare 餅つき Mochi rice cakes. When it gets dark they take 獅子頭 a lion's head and the rice cakes.
They enter each of the about 120 homes through the veranda of the living room and run out through the main door, leaving dirty footprints on the floor.

But since they are the messengers of the "Deity", this dirt may only be cleaned away until the next morning.
The family is sitting in the living room cheering when they come.
Mid-July.


- quote
神様の足あと ー 伊香おすわ様

福島県の南東部、茨城県との県境にある塙町の集落、伊香・古宿地区で、毎年 7 月中旬に行われる祭りです。
地区で流行した疫病の厄払いが起源とされ、200 年以上の歴史があるとも言われています。主役は二十歳前後の男たち。...
- source : twellv.co.jp/program

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青銅の神の足跡
谷川健一 Tanigawa Kenichi
古代鍛冶氏族の役割と足どりを詳細に追跡。徹底した実証と鋭い感性で銅鐸の謎に文化史の視線を当て、記紀成立以前の社会を大胆に復元し、日本文化の基底をなす金属神から農耕神への逆転を明示。
- at amazon com -


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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.......................................................................　Niigata 新潟県 .....
古志郡 Koshi district

. Yamanokami Legends from Niigata 新潟県 .
Yamanokami is a woman with a rather wild character. She has only one eye and one leg.
There is a boulder with one footprint and one imprint of a walking stick,
Yamanokami no ashiato 山の神の足跡石.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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

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- #ashiato #footprints #kaminoashiato -
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