Ken@Japan

Sada Jinja Shrine（佐太神社）is located in Matsue city, Shimane Pref. A deity called Sada-no-ookami（ 佐太大神）  is enshrined in the central building among the three main buildings for the deities to live in.  The shrine's official chronicle tells that the deity is the same as Sarutahiko（Refer to my previous article: Tsubaki Ookami Yashiro Shrine ). In Japan's mythology, Sarutahiko guided a grandson-Ninigi of the heavenly deity "Amaterasu" when he was coming down from the heaven to the land of Japan. With this regard, Sarutahiko is seen as a great guide.  However, the shrine's head priest admits that the Sada-no-ookami is a mysterious being; no clues to know who the deity really is and no clear evidences that the deity is really Sarutahiko.  On September 24 and 25 every year (August in Lunar year), the shrine holds a festival to replace mats in the shrine's buildings with new ones（Goza-kae Shinji：御座替神事）. The head priest says that the mat replacement means "re

Kouzu-no-miya Jinja Shrine（高津宮） is located in Osaka city and the 16th emperor Nintoku（仁徳天皇） is enshrined in the main building. According to the shrine's official chronicle, the emperor's palace used to be located right upon the shrine's place. The name "Nintoku"（仁徳） means "benevolence（仁）and goodness（徳）" and was given to him after his pass-away based on his good politics during his thrown time. The most famous story about his good achievements in politics is introduced in the official chronicle. Once upon a time, the emperor Nintoku came out of his palace and noticed that there were no smoke out of cooking stoves in his people's houses. The emperor came to know that people suffered from a food shortage so that they couldn't cook. Once he thought, he decided to cease taxation to people until the situation gets better. During the no-taxation time, the emperor decided to live modestly; he didn't buy a new cloth unless it was worn out,