玉造稲荷神社

Hidden within Osaka’s bustling heart lies Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine. It’s a place where ancient whispers mingle with modern life. Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine’s story begins long before Inari, the god of rice and prosperity, became its central figure. Legend says the shrine’s origins date back to 12 BCE. It initially honored Shitateru Hime. The name “Tamatsukuri,” meaning “jewel making,” reflects the area’s history. A guild of jewel makers, the Tamatsukuri-be, thrived here during the Yayoi period (200 BCE – 250 CE). They crafted magatama, comma-shaped jewels believed to hold sacred power. One tradition connects the shrine to Prince Shotoku Taishi. In 587 CE, during a conflict, he planted a white chestnut stick in the ground here. He prayed for victory, vowing that if he won, the stick would sprout leaves. It did, and so did Buddhism take root in Japan. Inari’s association with the shrine began in the late Heian period. During the Muromachi period (1392-1568), the enshrined deity became known as the “Inari of Five Happinesses.” The shrine’s history is marked by resilience. Fires, including one during a 1576 battle and another during the fall of Osaka Castle in 1615, repeatedly destroyed its buildings. Yet, each time, Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine was rebuilt. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle, the shrine became its protector, known as Toyotsu (Abundant Bay) Inari Shrine. It even housed several Buddhist halls, including a Kannon Hall, part of a local pilgrimage. More fires, in 1863 and during the 1945 bombing raids, could not extinguish its spirit. The present ferroconcrete sanctuary was completed in 1954. A unique feature of Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine is its use of the magatama motif. These curved jewels adorn lanterns, roof tiles, and amulets. A necklace of magatama graces a female fox statue in a sub-shrine. The shrine even has a museum dedicated to the history and production of magatama. These comma-shaped jewels were more than decorations. They were believed to be the repository for the kami, the divine spirit. Even today, Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine offers a unique blend of history, spirituality, and a glimpse into Japan’s rich past.