Cursed whispers follow us to Nitta Koroku-jinja Shrine. They speak of a vengeful spirit and a samurai’s tragic end. Nitta Koroku-jinja Shrine stands as a testament to Nitta Yoshioki, a skilled warrior of the 14th century. He fought for the Southern Court during the tumultuous Nanboku-cho period. His life was cut short at Yaguchi Ferry. His enemies, in a cowardly act, drilled holes in his boat and rained arrows upon him. This treachery, it is said, unleashed a curse. Those responsible were plagued by ghostly fires and lightning strikes.
Nitta Koroku-jinja Shrine was built to appease Yoshioki’s restless spirit. It is a place where whispers of his bravery mingle with prayers for love and good fortune. The shrine grounds hold a secret. A 700-year-old zelkova tree stands defiant. It survived the ravages of time, even the Tokyo air raids that scorched the earth around it. Touch its bark, and it is said, luck will follow you.
Tucked behind the shrine is a humble bamboo grove. Here lies another story. Hiraga Gennai, a scholar of Edo period, found inspiration in these bamboo stalks. He created the first hamaya, a sacred arrow used to ward off evil. A modern sculpture near the main hall commemorates this creation. It’s a tribute to ingenuity born from a place of peace. Nitta Koroku-jinja Shrine is more than just a shrine. It’s a place where history and spirituality intertwine. It is a sanctuary where the whispers of the past echo in the rustling leaves of the ancient zelkova tree. A place where the search for love and luck finds a home under the watchful gaze of a vengeful samurai’s spirit.