Sasago-ura

Historical Footprints

The ‘Sasago’ mentioned in the poem refers to a village in the Katae Bay area. While the present-day Tamae Shrine is located in Sasago, it is also connected to Tamae Village, which lies just beyond the mountain pass.

In the Izumo Fudoki, this bay is described as: “Tamae Beach—Goishi (black and white stones used in the board game Go) are produced here. Rough grindstones can be found along the eastern shore. Dwellings are present.” Today, although no one lives directly along the beach, homes and the shrine itself are situated further inland.

The ‘Tamae Beach’ mentioned in the Fudoki is actually located in Tamae Village rather than Sasago Port, and even now, black stones can be found along the shore at low tide.

The former shrine name, Tamai Daimyojin, is most likely the same as the ‘Tamae Myojin’ recorded in the Unyoushi and the Tamae-oyashiro mentioned in the Fudoki.

Although the written characters have changed over time, it is clear that the name of Tamae Village originates from the shrine. The word ‘tamae’ combines ‘tama’ (meaning jewel or precious object) with ‘e’, which can mean both ‘connection’ and ‘inlet/bay’ (as seen in place names such as Katae). Given the abundance of Go stones, this area could poetically be described as a “bay of jewels,” watched over by the shrine deity, Tamayorihime.

This recurring presence of the word ‘tama’—linking the land, its natural resources, and the shrine—adds a layer of mystery and cultural depth to Sasago.

Pilgrimage Route Guide

The ‘Ohimachi’ New Year event once involved participation from every household in Tamae Village.

Until about a decade ago, the deity Toshitokujin was paraded through the town in an omikoshi (portable shrine). As the number of participants declined, the procession was eventually carried out using a small truck, but this too has since ceased. In earlier times, when local youth carried the omikoshi, it was sometimes taken all the way into the sea near Tamae, symbolizing the connection to Tamayorihime, the daughter of the sea god. The omikoshi is still preserved near the shrine, its stone-carved dragon decorations now worn but serving as a reminder of the festival’s former vitality.

The Go stones mentioned in the Fudoki can still be collected along the shore about 200 meters from Tamae Shrine. Black stones are readily found, while the white ones are traditionally made from seashells.

In the past, local stonemasons would cross the mountain behind Tamae Shrine to reach the coast and collect stones for sharpening blades. As this route is no longer accessible, only one return path from the shore remains today.

The stone wall lining the steps leading up to the shrine is notable for its unusual construction. It is said that it may have been built either by a craftsman skilled in castle architecture or possibly by an early settler from China or Korea.

In the mountains opposite Tamae Shrine, there are several smaller shrines, including one dedicated to Kojin, a deity believed to protect against disasters. This further illustrates the widespread presence and influence of Fudoki-era shrines throughout the region.