Kashima Shrine


Kashima Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the Shinto Kami Takemikazuchi-no-Ōkami, one of the patron deities of martial arts. Various dojo of kenjutsu and kendo sometimes display a Kakejiku hanging scroll emblazoned with Takemikazuchi-no-Ōkami. The shrine is located in Kashima, Ibaraki and is the home of Kashima Shintō-ryū. During the New Year period, from the first to the third of January, Kashima Shrine is visited by over 600,000 people from all over Japan. It is the second most visited shrine in Ibaraki prefecture for new year pilgrims.
Tsukahara Bokuden, one of the most distinguished swordmasters in Japanese history, was a frequent visitor to the shrine and the son of one of its four retainers. The Kashima Shintō-ryū school of martial art was developed by him and is said to be derived from a combination of his own experiences as a shugyōsha during Musha shugyō and the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū. Tsukuhara learned Katori Shintō-ryū from his adopted father at Katori Shrine which has a strong connection to Kashima Shrine and dedicated to a similar patron deity.

Introduction

Kashima Shrine is located at the top of the Kashima plateau in south-east Ibaraki Prefecture, intersecting Kitaura and Kashimanada. Before the Meiji restoration, together with Ise Grand Shrine and Katori Shrine, all three were given status as Jingū. A shrine of high Imperial status.
The deities Takemikazuchi of Kashima Shrine and Futsunushi of Katori Shrine were considered great gods of the martial practices during the time of the Tenson kōrin grandson Ninigi.
Due to the proximity of the Kashima and Katori Shrines to the Emishi or Ezo people's territories, they became important frontline bases in the imperial court's war against the native people. This meant that both shrines saw a large flow of officials and military personnel through them. Even today on the first day of the new year emissaries and Shinto priests perform the Shihōhai, the Imperial New Year's ceremony, as a display of respect for the services during the war.
Both shrines have maintained a strong connection to the martial arts for many years due to their kindred deities and many dojo throughout Japan display hanging scrolls with the two gods. A large blade designated as a National Treasure of Japan known as the Futsu-no-Mitama Sword is housed in the treasure house of Kashima Shrine. The main shrine, prayer hall and tower gate entrance are also Important Cultural Property of Japan. The gate is one of the largest three shrine entrances in Japan. A deer enclosure is also located down the forest path. Both Kashima Shrine's deer and those of Nara are considered messengers of the gods and hence share a strong connection.

Enshrined deity

Kashima Ōkami is the official title of the main enshrined deity and named as Takemikazuchi. In historical texts he is also known as the great god of thunder.
According to legend the father of Japan, Izanagi, beheaded his own son Kagutsuchi the fire deity, as punishment for burning his mother to death. As he performed the act the blood dripped from his sword splashing onto the rocks below him, giving birth to several gods. Two of which were Takemikazuchi along with Futsunushi the deity of Katori Shrine. Both are considered great deities of the military arts and have been sought by many swordsmen and those pursuing the martial arts throughout history.

History

According to records the shrine was established in the first year of Emperor Jimmu in approximately 600BC. The ancient Fudoki of Hitachi province claims that in the time before heaven and earth, the great celestial god Kashima descended from the heavens and throughout the reigns of Emperor Sujin, Emperor Yamato Takeru and Emperor Tenji religious festivals and construction was carried out in the area of Kashima shrine in dedication and respect to the celestial god.
During the Heian period the Ise Grand Shrine, Kashima Shrine and Katori Shrine were given imperial Shinto status under the ancient Engishiki doctrine. Since ancient times both Kashima shrine and Katori Shrine have been closely connected and served as important forward positions for the Yamato dynasty Imperial Court during their opposition of the Ezo and Emishi peoples of northern Japan.
The treasure house of the shrine is said to hold the neck and its Japanese oke bucket container of Akurōu, otherwise known as Aterui, which were presented for enshrinement by Fujiwara Mitsuru of Mutsu province in 1664, the fourth year of the Kanbun era.

2011 Tōhoku Earthquake

In the 2011 Tōhoku Disaster on March 11, the large Shrine Torii gate was completely destroyed after it collapsed from the shock. Many of the shrine's large stone lanterns also fell over during the tremors and the water level of the pond at the back of the shrine also decreased. None of the treasures or Important Cultural Properties were damaged.
In January 2012 construction of a new Torii gate began using Japanese Sugi Cedars from the grounds of the shrine. The work was scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Grand Imperial Ofuna Festival

This special festival held once every 12 years in the Year of the Horse is to honour the great deities Takemikazuchi of Kashima Shrine and Futsunushi of Katori Shrine. The festival is one of great pride for the people in the areas of Kashima and Katori and said to be one of the biggest in Japan. The next Grand Imperial Ofuna Festival will be in 2026.
The festival began during the time of Emperor Ōjin although it was stopped once during the civil warring of the Muromachi period. In 1870, the third year of the Meiji period, the tradition of the festival was revived and given grand imperial status. In 1887 it was decided that the festival would be held every 12 years in the Year of the Horse.
Today the Grand Imperial Ofuna festival begins in the morning on the first of September and officials from the imperial court are sent to convey the blessings of the Emperor. In the early morning of the second day a Mikoshi from Kashima Shrine is carried overland along the edge of Lake Kitaura, a smaller part of Lake Kasumigaura, to a large boat waiting in the harbor. The boat, adorned with a great Ryūtō dragon motif, then joins a larger fleet of other colourful boats and carries the Mikoshi across the lake to the other side. From there a divine procession awaits to take the Mikoshi to Katori Shrine where the main festival takes place. After the festival a special temporary logging known as an Angu is constructed and the Mikoshi is taken there before being returned to its main shrine in the afternoon of the third day.

Festivals and annual events

January
February
March
April
May
June
September
October
November
December
Monthly service