About Hitokotonushi Surine | Katsuragi Hitokotonushi Shrine

The great deity Hitokotonushi appeared when the 21st emperor Yuryaku (Wakatakerunomikoto) was hunting on Mt. Katsuragi. This event is described in the history books Kojiki and Nihonshoki. In the Kojiki, it is written:

When the emperor went up Mt. Katsuragi, all the officials from government agencies were given and wore clothes dyed with indigo and a crimson string. At the same time, there were people climbing up the mountain on the other side. They were lined up the same as the emperor's procession, and the people and their clothes looked alike too. The emperor saw this and asked, "There is no king except me in Japan. Who are they, proceeding like that?" The answer he received was also written as if it were an order of an emperor. This made the emperor furious and he aimed an arrow at them. All his officials took aim as well. The emperor asked again, "Tell me your name. I will shoot an arrow knowing your name." The answer was "Since I was asked first, I will give my name first. Whether a bad thing or a good thing, it should be said in a word. I am the deity of koto-saka (word declared), Katsuragi Hitokotonushi." The emperor was awed and said, "It is my honor, my deity. I was not aware that you appeared." The emperor greeted the deity and made the officials take off their clothes, and offered them along with his sword, bow, and arrows. The great deity Hitokotonushi clapped his hands once* and accepted the offerings. When the emperor went back down the mountain, the great deity also descended the mountain and walked the emperor to the entrance of Mt. Hase. This is how the great deity Hitokotonushi appeared.
Thus, the Emperor Yuryaku deeply respected the great deity Hitokotonushi and gained strong power and virtue from him. This shrine enshrines the great deity Hitokotonushi and Wakatakerunomikoto (the Emperor Yuryaku) at the place where the deity appeared (kamikudachi) . As described above, it is written in the Kojiki that the great deity himself said "Whether a bad thing or a good thing, it should be said in a word. I am the deity of koto-saka (word declared), Katsuragi Hitokotonushi," and showed his divine power. Because of that, people have worshiped the great deity Hitokotonushi as a deity who listens to a single wish or a single word of wish, whatever it is, and they have affectionately called the deity Ichigon-san until now. The deity has earned the faith of the people in this local area and all over the country since times long ago.

Shrines which enshrine the deity Hitokotonushi in Japan

The main shrine

Our shrine is the main shrine of all the shrines which worship the deity Hitokotonushi.
There are groups formed by religious worshippers all over the country for the purpose of visiting our shrine.

『Montoku Jitsuroku』
The deity Katsuragi Hitokotonushi was given the third rank by the imperial court in 850.

『Sandai Jitsuroku』
the deity Katsuragi Hitokotonushi was given the pre-second rank in 859.
An imperial messenger gave offerings, and a prayer was given for wind and rain in the same year.

According to the Engishiki compiled in 907, the shrine was designated as a myojintaisha,
one of the most important shrines, and was receiving offerings from
imperial messengers at rituals such as Ainame, Niiname, and at monthly rituals.
It is said that Saicho (Dengyotaishi), the founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism,
also prayed at our shrine before going to China in 804.
The shrine was given the first grade from the Emperor Gokogon.

New Year's ritual (January 1st)

This is a ritual to thank the deity that we can step into the new year, and to pray for the coming year's safety and an abundant harvest. The precincts get crowded until around January 15th with visitors who come to make their first New Year's visit.

Setsubun the last day of winter ritual (Around February 3rd)

We burn old talismanic paper strips and wooden plates returned to the shrine between the end of the year and January. Setsubun has been considered another New Year's Eve since ancient times. It is why we perform a ritual for a new year in this season. There is a local saying that eating a long sushi roll facing toward that year's fortunate compass direction on Setsubun will bring a good year.

Spring grand ritual (April 5th)

The spring grand ritual of Hitokotonushi Shrine is performed with the representatives of this shrine's community areas. There is also a group of people from outside the shrine's community areas who have been told since ancient times that they must visit the shrine every year on this day.

Inari shrine rituals (May 3rd)

Rituals are performed for Inari Shrine within the precincts of this shrine on this day. It is said if you drink or get splashed with the hot water during the Yudate Shinto ritual, you will not catch epidemic disease during that year.

Nagoshi ritual (June 30th)

We hold the Nagoshi-no-oharae ritual according to ancient customs. Oharae is an important Shinto ritual held once each half year to exorcise and drive away the impurities we gain during daily life, and to maintain a clean and appropriate life. We perform Chinowakuguri, passing through a hoop made of kaya grass, to drive away plague and pray for sound health before the hot summer when people tend to get sick.

Autumn grand ritual or Gojinka (divine fire) ritual (September 15th)

Autumn grand ritual of the Hitokotonushi Shrine. We make a sacred fire alter between the hall of worship and the main shrine and burn prayer sticks with worshippers's written wishes. Since fire is worshipped during this ritual, strict purification is required. The Shinto priests who serve the ritual begin several days of abstinence then shut themselves up in a building from the night before the ritual. On the ritual day, after the chief priest conducts the ceremony, fire is lit on the sacred fire alter to burn the offered prayer sticks. If the weather allows, our shrine invites worshippers to go further from the hall of worship to put their prayer stick on the fire themselves. Hitokotonushi Shrine has long been worshipped by mountain ascetics training in Mt. Katsuragi. They visit the shrine before entering the Mt. Katsuragi area. According to our shrine history, the Gojinka ritual started when Tonori Fujiwara gathered Shinto priests, mountain ascetics, and their instructors to conduct the Hitaki-kitosai (lighting fire and praying ritual) in 1482. The Ichiyoraifuku (positive things come after negative things) talisman of our shrine is also related to this event.

Zakosai (the second Sunday of October)

Hitokotonushi Shrine is worshipped and respected as the main guardian shrine of the village by Jukkataiji, 10 communities of Shinto-shrine parishioners. There were various forms of communities that existed before the period prior to the modern era. One of them still remains in our communities and is called Za. They have passed down a traditional festival called Zakosai. It used to be held on October 14th and 15th, but now it is held on the second Sunday of October due to changes in social circumstances. Each Za decides on the lead house and prepares offerrings such as a large bamboo Gohei, a sacred Shinto stick with strips of paper, which is as long as about three meters. In the Miyado area, the lead house grows Murasaki plants handed down within Za, to dye the Gohei's paper. This custom is a matter of interest for folklorists. The two Za, Moriwaki and Miyado, separately parade to the shrine with offerings after conducting traditional rituals unique to each Za. The main offering is the Gohei, followed by Shishi-kagura music and dance, Tengu monster masks, etc. There is also Yoimiyasai, a festival on the eve, in which Susuki chochin lanterns and Kodomo chochin lanters are brought from different areas. The scene of them gathering at the shrine is a charming sight in autumn and entertains many visitors.

Ichiyoraifukusai (winter solstice)

Winter solstice is a day to enshrine a card talisman for each family. Our shrine has conducted a secret ritual in the middle of the night since the Muromachi era (14th to 16th century). However, we started to conduct the ritual during the evening, responding to the earnest request from worshippers, and now anyone can join the festival. In this ritual, we offer light before the altar, comfort the souls of all things, wish for restoration by welcoming the rising sun, and pray for good luck. Since we offer light during this ritual, it is also called Kentosai, votive light ritual.