"Karamatsu no Karamatsu" is the god who protects women's lives, including matchmaking, childbirth, and safe childbirth [Daisen City, Akita Prefecture]

Karamatsu Shrine, located in Kyowa, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, the "Women's Guardian Deity*" that protects women throughout their lives is also the god of matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth. It is affectionately known locally "Karamatsu-sama of the Boundary."

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* Meikatamori no Kami is a deity who protects women throughout their lives, and is said to grant blessings in terms of matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth.

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In Akita Prefecture, it is said to have been a revered shrine by the Onodera and Satake clans, but in the late Heian period it became the "Karamatsusan Kounji Temple," a syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism ‹2›, and enshrines a seated statue of the Acalanatha Kannon Bodhisattva created by Jocho. During the Edo period it was counted as the 18th temple of the 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Sites of the Six Counties of Akita, but was split into two shrines, Atago Shrine and Karamatsu Shrine, when Shinto and Buddhism were separated ‹3›

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*‹2›-Shinbutsu Shugo (syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism) is a religious phenomenon in which the indigenous Japanese belief in Shinto and Buddhist belief (Japanese Buddhism) are fused and reconstructed into a single belief system.

*3. Separation of Shinto and Buddhism refers to the prohibition of the practice of syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism, and the clear distinction between Shinto and Buddhism, between gods and Buddhas, and between shrines and temples. This was officially implemented nationwide based on the Shinto and Buddhism Separation Order issued by the Meiji government.

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The name Karamatsu Shrine comes from the name Karamatsunomiya (Karamatsu Palace) "conquest of Korea" and Goguryeo). It wasn't until 1509 (Eisho 6) that the shrine began to be recorded under its current , "Karamatsu Shrine." that during the conquest of the Three Kingdoms, Ikuinomuraji presented a belly band to the pregnant Empress Jingu, who later bestowed it upon her, and this was passed down to the Akita Mononobe clan and considered a sacred treasure.

When the future Emperor Ojin was born, this belly band became the sacred object of Karamatsu Shrine and came to be enshrined as the guardian deity of childbearing and safe childbirth

For the above reasons, Karamatsu Shrine in Kyowa, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture is a historic shrine that is constantly visited by worshippers from all over the country

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On this day, I had spent the night in Omagari, Daisen City, the day before, and when I asked a local person about places to stop by in the area, he suggested that I visit Karamatsu Shrine, so I came here

I never imagined it would be such a fantastical and mysterious place. Today I would like to introduce Karamatsu Shrine,

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The 160m long approach to Karamatsu Shrine lined with old cedar trees

The approach to Karamatsu Shrine can be accessed from the residential area of ​​Kyowa in Daisen City

The cedar trees along the approach to the shrine are approximately 100 to 350 years old and are said to have been planted by the lord of the Satake domain in 1679

If you go straight along the approach, you will see the torii gate

If you go further, you will reach the worship hall, and along the way you will see the torii gate of Karamatsuyama Tenhi Shrine

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A remnant of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism? Karamatsuyama Tenhi Shrine

Karamatsusan Amatsuhinomiya, adjacent to Karamatsu Shrine , is a shrine dedicated to the gods associated with the Mononobe family, located within the gardens of the Mononobe family residence. When Satake Yoshitokoro relocated Karamatsu Shrine, it was moved to its current location with Karamatsusan Kounji Temple as its betto (administrator), and later became the clan deity and enshrined within the residence of the Akita Mononobe family.

Its quiet appearance in the middle of the pond is truly mystical. The current shrine building was rebuilt in 1914 in the Hōmen Shinmei style, and is said to be a reproduction of one that was once built in Yamato. The stone walls were made from approximately 100,000 pieces of natural stone donated by religious groups and worshippers, and the garden was completed in 1932

Behind the main shrine , the "Holding Stone Male Stone (left photo)" that the "Tamahoko Stone (center photo)" that grants matchmaking and safe childbirth, and the "Woman Stone (right photo)" that grants fertility, and you can pray directly to the sacred object. When praying, men should go around the stone clockwise while chanting their wishes and touching the Tamahoko Stone, while women should go around the stone counterclockwise and touch the Holding Stone Male Stone and the Tamahoko Stone, repeating this procedure three times.

Leaving Karamatsuyama Tenhigu Shrine behind, we head to Karamatsu Shrine's main hall

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The Karamatsu Shrine worship hall, a unique structure that cannot be found anywhere else

Unlike other shrines, the worship hall of Karamatsu Shrine is located in a lower depression, and the approach to the shrine is downhill. The worship hall and main hall are built as one building, which I think makes it a rare shrine nationwide. While praying, I was lucky enough to meet the priest

The priest said, "It's okay to look inside the worship hall." I thanked him and decided to take him up on his offer, but I was shocked to see what was happening inside

The only reason I stopped by Karamatsu Shrine this time was it was "recommended by the locals," and now that I'm writing this article, I understand what they said, but when I first visited, I still didn't know what kind of shrine it was. Once inside, I learned the reason behind Karamatsu Shrine.

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The god of matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth, "Karamatsu Shrine of the Boundary"

Look at this bell. It's truly a "bell-like" bell. It must be over 2 meters in size

These bells were donated by people who were blessed with children after prayers, and some of the oldest ones seem to have been donated during the Edo period. In more recent times, bells with handmade bell cords have also been donated

Various bells and bell ropes have been donated from all over the country, showing that Karamatsu Shrine is a shrine with deep faith as a place to pray for children

I was stunned and thought, "What is this?", so I bowed and left Karamatsu Shrine

We highly recommend visiting Karamatsu Shrine in Kyowa, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature while surrounded by a sacred atmosphere

Karamatsu Shrine <Information>

• Name: Karamatsu Shrine
• Address: 94 Kyowa Sakai Shimodai, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, 019-2411
• Founded in 982 (Tengen 5)
• Annual festival: May 3rd
• Enshrined deity　
  • Kagutsuchi no Mikoto
  • Okinagatarashihime-no-Mikoto
  • Toyoukehime-no-Mikoto
  • Takamimusubi no Mikoto
  • Kamimusubi no Mikoto

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