Mitsu-ura

Historical Footprints

The shrine was formerly known as Kumano-jinja, but in the 1863 publication “42 Ura Narabini Douchuki”, it is recorded as ‘Rokusha Daimyojin’. In the ‘Unyoushi’, it appears as ‘Rokusha Myojin’, with six enshrined deities: Izanagi-no-mikoto, Izanami-no-mikoto, Amaterasu Omikami, Ninigi-no-mikoto, Susanoo-no-mikoto, and Koyane-no-mikoto.

The name ‘Kumano’ may have been used during a period when religious rites were limited to Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto. The ‘Unyoushi’ also references a shrine called ‘Mitsu Yashiro’ mentioned in the Fudoki, which is believed to correspond to the present-day Mitsu-jinja. Omura Washiro Shigeyoshi, who visited the shrine in 1866, referred to it as ‘Rokusha Daimyojin’ in his pilgrimage diary, suggesting that it may have been identified with ‘Mitsu Yashiro’.

The ‘Mitsu Yashiro’ described in the Izumo Fudoki is listed as one of the official ‘Shikinaisha’ shrines. Its entry records that ‘Mitsu no Hama is 1,144 feet wide, and wakame (seaweed) grows on Mitsushima Island’. The name ‘Mitsu’ is considered to represent a guardian kami of the area.

This shrine appears to have undergone several relocations over time. These transitions are reflected in the ‘Unyoushi’, which refers to it by its earliest name, ‘Honchisha’.

Pilgrimage Route Guide

The chief representative of Mitsu-jinja explained that, regarding ‘Uppurui nori’, the Izumo Fudoki notes that ‘seaweed is found in locations such as Mishima, Noroshi Shima, and Kozu Shima, but the seaweed of Tatenui Province surpasses all others’. This is surprising, as Uppurui nori is often thought to be exclusive to Uppurui Bay. It was further explained that seaweed harvesting at Mitsu-ura, like that at Uppurui, involved significant risk due to rough and unpredictable seas.

The Shinto rituals performed at Mitsu-jinja today closely follow those described in the ‘Unyoushi’ from the Edo period, including the ‘Taue-shinji’ (rice planting ritual) and the ‘Omato-shinji’ (archery ritual), both held annually on January 7th.

The ‘Kyodoshi-saka’ (local historical records) describes the Omato-shinji as follows: Shinto priests shoot arrows at a board made of Japanese cedar, upon which the word ‘Oni’ (demon) is written in charcoal.

The Taue-shinji involves planting rice seeds along with branches of black and red pine. The Shinto priest declares prayers for an abundant harvest, and the ritual concludes with ‘mochimaki’ (the throwing of rice cakes) by participants gathered at the shrine.

The Omato-shinji is also said to be connected to a legend in which a kami fired arrows that drove away the Mongolian forces during their attempted invasion of Japan.

On January 7th, 2013, at Hinomisaki-jinja in Noha-ura, Shimane Prefecture, a related festival known as the ‘Otaue-sai’ (harvest festival) was held. This lively event, attended by people of all ages, featured participants energetically striking rice seedlings with rice cakes attached to bamboo sticks.

Incidentally, there is also a Mitsu-jinja in Kashima-cho, Matsue City, but it has no connection to the Mitsu-ura shrine described here.

English Translation: [ Louisa Morris ]