Kushima Shrine is a historic shrine located in Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Its principal deity is Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, and another 12 deities are also enshrined here. Although the exact date of its founding is unknown, the shrine has been a place of worship in this area since ancient times.
The precise date when Kushima Shrine was founded is not known. According to tradition, however, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, better known as Yamasachihiko, once visited this area as a hunting ground. At that time, he is said to have established a temporary palace called Hokoku-no-Miya. The site was subsequently regarded as sacred and came to be worshipped as a shrine.
The place name Karishū, which still exists in Kushima City, is associated with this legend and is said to provide evidence of the tradition.
The shrine was restored during the 14th-century Nanboku-chō period by Nobe Morifusa. It was rebuilt again by the Shimazu clan in 1467, the first year of the Ōnin era. In 1570, the first year of the Genki era, the shrine’s chief priest at the time, Taniguchi Sakae, received a certificate of authorization for Shinto rites from Yoshida Kanemi, the head of the Yoshida Shinto organization. This helped establish the shrine’s religious standing.
During the Edo period (1603–1868), the shrine also received the patronage of the Akizuki family, lords of the Takanabe Domain. It became the principal shrine of the Fukushima area.
Kushima Shrine was formerly known as Jūsansho Daimyōjin. This name referred to the 13 deities enshrined here, including its principal deity, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto. In 1872, the fifth year of the Meiji era, the shrine’s name was changed to Kushima Shrine, which it retains today.
The principal deity of Kushima Shrine is Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, also known as Yamasachihiko. In Japanese mythology, he is associated with hunting and is famous for marrying Toyotama-hime, the daughter of the sea deity. In addition to the principal deity, the following 12 deities are enshrined here:
Nyotai Daimyōjin (Toyotama-hime-no-Kami), Shinka Daimyōjin, Hatsuguma Daimyōjin, Tomarihashira Daimyōjin (Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto and Hayaakitsuhime-no-Mikoto), Mottai Daimyōjin, Hijiri Daimyōjin (Tenkaagiyama-no-Mikoto), Chigo-no-Mae, Toshi Daimyōjin (Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto), Shino Daimyōjin, Kamitsue Daimyōjin, Shimotsue Daimyōjin, and Tsuedate Daimyōjin.
The presence of these 13 deities is the reason the shrine was once called Jūsansho Daimyōjin.
Kushima Shrine preserves a number of cultural properties that convey the history and traditions of the local area. The following objects and natural features have been designated as tangible cultural properties or natural monuments by Kushima City.
The historic plaque preserved at Kushima Shrine is designated as a tangible cultural property by Kushima City. It is located at the shrine in Shimoike, Kitakata, and received its designation on February 3, 1978 (Showa 53).
The plaque records achievements accomplished by Kumae Gorōzaemon, a senior retainer of the Takanabe Domain, between 1704 (Hōei 1) and 1719 (Kyōhō 4).
The shrine preserves a collection of 10 Kagura masks, which are also designated as tangible cultural properties by Kushima City. The oldest mask bears an inscription dated 1479 (Bunmei 11).
These masks were formerly used in the shrine’s Kamimai Festival. They are now exhibited at the Former Yoshimatsu Family Residence, where visitors can view these valuable objects associated with the region’s traditional performing arts.
The shrine grounds contain trees designated as natural monuments:
Sugi Cedar of Kushima Shrine: This cedar has a trunk circumference of approximately 3 meters, a height of approximately 16.5 meters, and an estimated age of around 300 years.
Camphor Trees of Kushima Shrine: There are 14 camphor trees, each designated in 1978 (Showa 53). The largest has a trunk circumference of approximately 6.3 meters, a height of approximately 18 meters, and an estimated age of around 250 years.
The grounds of Kushima Shrine cover approximately 3,056 tsubo, or about 10,100 square meters. The spacious grounds provide a peaceful setting for worship and seasonal ceremonies.
Every year, the shrine holds a seed-scattering ritual to pray for abundant harvests and the safety and well-being of households. This ceremony reflects the close relationship between the shrine and the agricultural life of the local community.
Kushima Shrine holds a variety of religious ceremonies throughout the year. Among the most important are the following festivals.
The Saitan-sai is held on January 1 to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. Worshippers gather to offer prayers before the deities and welcome the year through a solemn ceremony.
The Kinen-sai, also known as the spring festival, takes place every year on February 19 and 20. It is held to pray for a bountiful harvest and prosperity in agriculture.
The Netarō Festival is performed as part of this spring celebration. It reenacts the return of Toyotama-hime to Kushima Shrine to meet Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto. Based on ancient mythology, the ritual symbolizes the reunion of a husband and wife and expresses prayers for agricultural prosperity. It remains an important local tradition.
The Nagoshi Ōharae is held on June 30. During this purification ceremony, worshippers pray to be cleansed of the sins and impurities accumulated during the first half of the year so that they can spend the remaining six months in a pure and peaceful state.
The shrine’s main annual festival is held on November 13 and 14. It is one of the most important events in the shrine’s yearly calendar.
The Niiname-sai, or harvest thanksgiving ceremony, takes place on November 23. It is held to express gratitude for the year’s harvest. This ceremony, which celebrates agricultural abundance, symbolizes the close connection between the shrine and the farming traditions of the community.
A monthly ceremony called Tsukinami-sai is held on the first day of every month. On December 31, the shrine conducts the year-end purification ceremony, Toshikoshi Ōharae. Through these regular observances, the religious traditions of the local community continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
Kushima Shrine is a historic place of worship with a long tradition reaching back to ancient times. Thirteen deities are enshrined here, led by Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, and the shrine remains an important spiritual center for the local community.
Its cultural properties, including the historic plaque and 10 Kagura masks, preserve valuable evidence of the area’s past. The ancient trees within the grounds and the annual ceremonies connected with agriculture also reflect the shrine’s close relationship with the surrounding natural environment and local life.
Visitors can experience the shrine’s solemn atmosphere while discovering the mythology, history, and traditions that have been cherished in Kushima for generations.