Deities Enshrined at Izumi Anashi Shrine
The principal deities worshipped at Izumi Anashi Shrine are Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto and Takahata Chiji-hime-no-Mikoto.
The 1879 Jinja Meisaicho, an official shrine register, records Ame-no-Fuki-no-Kami and Sakomazuchi-no-Okami as the deities enshrined here. However, a later record from 1894 identifies Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto and Takahata Chiji-hime-no-Mikoto as the principal deities. The shrine follows this latter interpretation today.
Takahata Chiji-hime-no-Mikoto is associated with weaving and textiles. Izumiotsu has been an important center of the textile industry since the Edo period, giving the shrine a particularly interesting connection with the area’s traditional industries.
History of the Shrine
Origins of Izumi Anashi Shrine
According to shrine tradition, Izumi Anashi Shrine was founded in 672, during the Hakuho period. Other traditions place its origins even earlier, during the reign of Empress Jingu or around Emperor Jimmu’s eastern expedition. The exact date of its foundation therefore remains uncertain.
A document from the Shosoin Repository dating to 738 records that the shrine, together with Otori Taisha, received an estate of 1,300 koku from Emperor Shomu.
Recognition by the Imperial Court
The Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, a historical record of Japan’s imperial court, states that the shrine was granted the rank of Shoshii-no-ge in 865. In 868, its status was further elevated to Jushii-no-ge.
In 1331, the military leader Kusunoki Masashige dedicated a stone lantern to the shrine, demonstrating the respect in which it was held.
Protection and Reconstruction
In 1575, Oda Nobunaga issued a vermilion-seal document guaranteeing the shrine’s land holdings. In 1602, Toyotomi Hideyori ordered the shrine buildings to be reconstructed, with Katagiri Katsumoto overseeing the project.
The shrine was designated a Village Shrine in 1873 and was elevated to the status of a Prefectural Shrine in 1894.
Historic Buildings and Features
Main Sanctuary
The main sanctuary was reconstructed in 1602 under the direction of Toyotomi Hideyori and Katagiri Katsumoto. It is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
The ridge-end plaque records the names of Toyotomi Hideyori and Katagiri Katsumoto, while the building itself preserves architectural characteristics of the Momoyama period.
Stone Lantern
A distinctive stone lantern stands in front of the main sanctuary. It was dedicated by Kusunoki Masashige in 1331 as a prayer for peace in the nation and lasting military success.
Its elegant, weathered form is an important reminder of the shrine’s long history.
Worship Hall
The worship hall was rebuilt during the Keicho era, from 1596 to 1615, and is designated as an Izumiotsu City Tangible Cultural Property.
Two torii gates stand side by side, reflecting the two principal deities enshrined in the main sanctuary.
Sacred Camphor Trees
The shrine grounds are home to a large camphor tree protected by Izumiotsu City. A group of 12 large trees has also been designated as a natural monument by the city.
These trees form an important part of the shrine’s sacred woodland and contribute to its atmosphere of tranquility.
Subshrines and Auxiliary Shrines
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Sumiyoshi Shrine is believed to date from 1273 and is the oldest surviving main sanctuary building of its type in Osaka Prefecture. It is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Anashi Tenmangu Shrine
Anashi Tenmangu Shrine is housed in a building relocated from the main sanctuary of Sugawara Shrine in Itahara Village in 1908. Several nearby shrines were subsequently consolidated here.
The building has been recognized as part of the Izumiotsu Furusato Cultural Heritage.
Kasuga Shrine
Kasuga Shrine was reconstructed in 1602 under the direction of Toyotomi Hideyori and Katagiri Katsumoto. Its architecture strongly reflects the characteristics of the Momoyama period, and it is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Okuninushi Shrine, Kusunoki Shrine, and Hyoshu Shrine
The shrine grounds also contain several smaller shrines dedicated to figures including Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Kusunoki Masashige. Each is associated with its own traditions and historical stories.
Cultural Properties
Izumi Anashi Shrine preserves a large collection of cultural properties designated by the national government, Osaka Prefecture, and Izumiotsu City.
National Important Cultural Properties
The main sanctuary, Kasuga Shrine, and Sumiyoshi Shrine are all designated as National Important Cultural Properties. In addition, 80 wooden statues of Shinto deities have received the same designation.
The wooden statues are believed to date from the Heian and Momoyama periods, making them valuable examples of Japan’s religious art and history.
Osaka Prefectural Cultural Properties
A group of wooden male and female deity statues and a drum are designated as cultural properties of Osaka Prefecture. The statues are considered works from the Heian period.
Izumiotsu City Cultural Properties
The shrine’s worship hall, torii gates, and group of large camphor trees are protected as cultural properties of Izumiotsu City.
Annual Festivals and Religious Events
Izumi Anashi Shrine holds numerous religious ceremonies and festivals throughout the year. Major events include:
January
New Year’s Festival (January 1)
Ebis Festival (January 10)
Spring and Summer
Spring Grand Festival (April 5)
Nagoshi Grand Purification (June 30)
Summer Shrine Festival (July 15)
Autumn and Winter
Autumn Grand Festival – held on the day before Health and Sports Day
Takahata Festival (November 1)
Winter Shrine Festival (December 15)
Through these annual events, Izumi Anashi Shrine continues to play an important role in the religious and cultural life of the local community.
A Historic Shrine Surrounded by Sacred Woodland
With a history stretching back more than a thousand years, Izumi Anashi Shrine offers visitors an opportunity to experience the religious traditions, architecture, and natural surroundings of southern Osaka.
Its nationally designated shrine buildings, ancient wooden deity statues, historic stone lantern, and tranquil grove provide a fascinating glimpse into the long history of Izumi Province and the communities that have preserved its traditions.