Deep within the heart of Musashino City, nestled within Gotenyama Park, stands a monument known as Inu-musubi-no-matsu, or the “Dog-tying Pine.” Legend whispers of a time when this area, now a peaceful park, was a vast, untamed wilderness called Hatcho-no. This wilderness was home to a prosperous farming family, blessed with a large kaya tree that sheltered a pair of devoted wolf parents raising their young. These weren’t your typical wolves; they were revered as messengers of the mountain god. Their presence brought a sense of peace and prosperity to the village.
The villagers, deeply respectful of these creatures, left offerings of food beneath the kaya tree. This act of kindness created a harmonious bond between humans and wolves. However, as time wore on, tragedy struck. The wolf parents perished, leaving the villagers heartbroken. They buried the wolves under a nearby kuromatsu tree, naming it the Inu-matsu, or “Dog Pine.” A small shrine was also built beneath the kaya tree to honor the wolf family. This marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition.
Over the years, newcomers settled in Hatcho-no, bringing with them the Okami faith, a belief system that revered wolves. This blended with the existing reverence for the wolf family. A new tradition was born. Every year on April 15th, considered the memorial day for the wolves, a festival was held to honor them. Villagers, dressed in ceremonial red headbands, would offer red rice or white rice to the shrine beneath the kaya tree, praying for protection and good fortune.
This festival, and the offerings of “dog-tied rice,” continued until 1940. In 1989, the original Inu-matsu withered and died. Its remains were carefully excavated and preserved. A new goyo-matsu pine was planted in Gotenyama Park, in a spot specifically designed to mirror the original location of the Inu-matsu. This new monument, the Inu-musubi-no-matsu, continues to be a symbol of the deep connection between the people of Musashino City and the revered wolf family of Hatcho-no. It stands as a reminder of a time when wilderness and community coexisted, a testament to the enduring power of respect and remembrance. Here at Inu-musubi-no-matsu, the whispers of the past echo in the rustling leaves, a tribute to the dog-tying pine and the legends it holds.