Yuga Shrine Honmiya — The head shrine for warding off misfortune on Mt. Yuga. This historic shrine is known for the “dual pilgrimage” with Kotohira-gu Shrine.

Interview with Naoshi Shimozawa, Deputy Chief Priest of Yuga Shrine Honmiya

With a long history and many worshippers, Yuga Shrine Honmiya is a popular place of worship.

We spoke with Naoshi Shimozawa about the background behind the creation of the much-talked-about “Bizen Mamori” amulet.

“Bizen Mamori” amulets created in collaboration with traditional crafts

The “Bizen Mamori” amulet is said to be popular. How did it come about?

Shimozawa (honorific omitted)

We began offering the Bizen Mamori in December 2021.

It is an amulet made using Bizen ware, a traditional craft representative of Okayama Prefecture, so I think it has turned out to be an amulet that lets people appreciate the local character.

Also, Yuga Shrine Honmiya is famous for its Bizen ware torii gate and lion statues, so that is another reason for the connection to Bizen ware.

How have worshippers responded since you began offering the Bizen Mamori?

Shimozawa

The Bizen Mamori has been very well received. At first, we quickly ran out, and people sometimes had to wait.

Because of the nature of the amulet, which is made from Bizen ware, it was difficult to prepare them quickly, but since then we have been able to offer them with a reasonable amount in stock.

However, depending on the circumstances, we may not be able to offer them right away, and we appreciate your understanding.

The Bizen Mamori offers protection from misfortune.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing since 2020, so I hope the Bizen Mamori will help bring the pandemic to an early end and give people hope.

Have there been any other collaborations or interesting initiatives?

Shimozawa

Our good-luck amulet for finding love, made using Sanada-himo (traditional braided cord), a local traditional craft, has also been well received.

We no longer offer it, but we once had a popular Octopus amulet for success in exams, inspired by the octopus deity at Yuga Shrine Honmiya.

The Japanese word for octopus is “octopus” in English.
It is also a pun on “oku to pass,” meaning “if you place it (on your desk), you’ll pass” (laughs).

Becoming the “head shrine for warding off misfortune” through the Edo-period “dual pilgrimage”

Yuga Shrine Honmiya is called the “head shrine for warding off misfortune.” How did it come to be known by that name?

Shimozawa

The principal deities enshrined at Yuga Shrine Honmiya are Taokihooi-no-Mikoto and Hikosashiri-no-Mikoto.
They are deities of craftsmanship, who preside over architecture and skills.

However, when the “dual pilgrimage” to Mt. Yuga and Kotohira-gu Shrine became popular in the Edo period, Naohi-no-Mikoto and Oonaohi-no-Mikoto were enshrined here so that travelers could pray for safe journeys.

That is because Naohi-no-Mikoto and Oonaohi-no-Mikoto are deities who ward off misfortune.

From then on, more people visited Yuga Shrine Honmiya to pray for protection from misfortune and, by extension, for protection from calamity, and it came to be known as the “head shrine for warding off misfortune.”

Yuga Shrine Honmiya has 52 branch shrines nationwide

Yuga Shrine Honmiya is called the “Honmiya” (main shrine). How many branch shrines are there?

Shimozawa

So far, we have confirmed 52 shrines nationwide by checking documents and other sources.
There may be more, as some shrines cannot be linked to Yuga Shrine Honmiya through documentary evidence.

Most of the branch shrines are in western Japan, particularly in the Chugoku, Shikoku, Kinki, and northern Kyushu regions. The westernmost branch shrine is in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, and the easternmost is in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. There is also a Yuga Shrine in Gunma Prefecture, but we have not yet confirmed its connection.

Nearby, there are branch shrines in Higashizuka in Mizushima, Shimotsui in Kojima, and Tatebajima (commonly known as Kujira-jima) off the coast of Kojima.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we organized a “Yuga Shrine pilgrimage” to visit branch shrines across the country.

The idea was to visit Yuga Shrines in different areas and build connections among them.

The opening of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge brought the dual pilgrimage within reach again

Do you have a final message for our readers?

Shimozawa

The dual pilgrimage was popular in the Edo period, but it declined for a time.
However, with the opening of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge, travel between Honshu and Shikoku became easier, and more people began making the dual pilgrimage again.

Some individuals and companies travel from as far away as Hiroshima and Aichi prefectures to make the dual pilgrimage every year.

People visit Yuga Shrine Honmiya with all kinds of wishes, including protection from misfortune, success in exams, and the blessing of children.

Since you have made the effort to come all the way up the mountain to Mt. Yuga, I hope you will receive its blessings before you leave.

Please feel free to visit without feeling you need to be formal.
Mt. Yuga is also part of a national park, and is rich in nature. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall.

We hope you will visit Yuga Shrine Honmiya and leave feeling refreshed in both body and mind.

Take the “dual pilgrimage” to Yuga Shrine Honmiya, the head shrine for warding off misfortune

Mt. Yuga has a long history and flourished in the Edo period through the “dual pilgrimage” with Kotohira-gu Shrine.

Mt. Yuga is about 13 km southeast of the Bikan Historical Area. When visiting Kurashiki, why not make the trip to Yuga Shrine Honmiya and pay your respects?

You can also pick up a Kurashiki-style goshuincho (shrine stamp book) and a Bizen ware amulet, the Bizen Mamori.

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