Whispers of wishes fulfilled linger here at Oman Inari Shrine. This small shrine has a history of about 350 years. It stands inconspicuously between buildings. Passersby might miss it.
Oman Inari Shrine enshrines Oman-no-kata. She was a concubine of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the first shogun. Ieyasu found her when she was a teenager. He was in his fifties. People called her a Cinderella girl. Oman bore Ieyasu two sons. They were Tokugawa Yorinobu and Tokugawa Yorifusa. These sons founded the Kii Tokugawa and Mito Tokugawa families. They strongly supported the Tokugawa family. Oman was known for her beauty and intelligence.
The merchants in this area have long revered Oman Inari Shrine. They love the shrine. Even today, the Hatsuuma Festival is held here. It takes place on the first Uma day in February. Local businesspeople pray for a bountiful harvest. They also pray for success and family safety. In 2004, the street facing the shrine was named Yojuin Street. This name honors Oman-no-kata’s posthumous Buddhist name.
The shrine was built after the Great Meireki Fire of 1657. This fire burned down most of Edo. The shrine’s information board mentions Oman Inari in records from 1661 to 1673. Legend says Oman-no-kata often stopped here. She bought items to donate to the temple. This greatly helped the local businesses. Oman-no-kata died in 1653. She did not see the fire’s devastation. Her support helped businesses rebuild after the fire. The merchants of Kamimaki-cho worshipped her. They saw her as the guardian goddess.
During the Kyoho period women visited Oman Inari Shrine. They prayed every day. Small cups of rouge were sold in front of the shrine. The women bought them. They offered the rouge at the shrine. They prayed for their loved ones and families. They also wished for health and business success.
Children sang a song. The song was called “Kyobashi, Nakabashi, and Oman’s rouge.” This song made Oman an icon of the area. Ryutei Tanehiko wrote about a mysterious event at the shrine. This was in his book Yoshabako. It was published in 1841. Many people rushed to the shrine after this event. The children’s song then became popular.
Kitamura Intei wrote that “Oman’s rouge” came from “Ama-ga-beni”. Ama-ga-beni means “heavenly red”. It refers to the red sky at dusk. He said “Ama” changed to “Oman”. This change happened gradually.
The story of a nun also played a role. She secretly wore rouge. She was waiting for her husband. People confused “heavenly red” with the nun’s story. It became “nun’s rouge”. This later changed to “Oman’s rouge.”
Girls played with camellia flowers. They put them on their cheeks. They imitated the makeup of the time. They unconsciously changed “Ama” to “Oman”. “Oman’s rouge” became a popular song. The seductive allure of these women attracted people. The nearby Momijigawa River linked “red/rouge” and “Oman”.
Thus, Oman Inari Shrine became more than just a place of worship. It became a symbol of wishes and beauty. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith and legend.