Imagine a time long ago. It’s the 5th year of Keian in 1652. Let me tell you about Wakamiya Shrine.
Hatamoto Okubo Kanzaburo Tadayoshi founded it. He was the lord of Toyota Village. During the Edo period Zenseiji Temple served as a separate temple.
The main shrine has a seated stone statue. The statue is in a sash. A komainu dog stands in front of the assembly hall. It was dedicated in 1797.
Wakamiya Shrine has been revered as a guardian deity of children. This dates back to ancient times. People welcome worshippers with bonfires and amazake. This happens at the first pilgrimage. The people of the Toyota Shoten Association cooperate every year. Also the Toyota Wakamiya Shinkokai helps.
Many children gather at Yoimiya during the festival. A children’s sumo tournament takes place in a special arena. At the main shrine a ceremony is held. A song plays at the Kagura Hall. New music is danced for two days. A Japanese drum performance occurs in the evening. In the evening there is a Bon Odori competition. This is during Yoimiya. There is also a karaoke tournament during Hongu. The festival is crowded all day. This happens for two days.
The term wakamiya means sub-shrine. It enshrines a child of the main shrine’s deity. It may have a special relationship to that deity. The deities here relate to Emperor Ojin or Hachiman. Hachiman is the guardian deity. He protects the warrior class and Japan. He is enshrined in the main shrine.
Ojin’s wife Empress Nakatsu is one deity. His son Emperor Nintoku is another. Nintoku’s wife Empress Iwano is also here. Their son Emperor Richu completes the four. All are semi-mythical figures.
This upper and lower shrine arrangement dates to 1191. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu was rebuilt then. A fire devastated the grounds earlier. Before that there was one main shrine. It stood near Wakamiya. It was at the foot of the stone staircase. The staircase leads to the current Main Shrine.
Guarding against fire influenced the new main sanctuary’s location. The mountainside location protects against flames. Flames might spread from a town fire. The stone staircase connects the Main Shrine and Wakamiya. It was built then.
The current Wakamiya Shrine building completed in 1624. It is an Important Cultural Property. It’s in the same gongen-zukuri style as the Main Shrine. The worship hall connects to the offering hall. The main shrine is under one roof. Wakamiya Shrine stands as a testament. It shows resilience and devotion.