Name: Kitamiya Aso Shrine (北宮阿蘇神社)
Enshrined Deity: Hayamikatama-No-Mikoto
Address: 〒861-1305 Kumamoto-ken, Kikuchi-shi, Kitamiya, 64
Enshrined Deity: Hayamikatama-No-Mikoto
Address: 〒861-1305 Kumamoto-ken, Kikuchi-shi, Kitamiya, 64
~~ NOTE: This is part 3 in a 5 part series of my adventures around Kumamoto on January 22nd. ~~
Kitamiya Aso Shrine was built in 1375. It is said that the 17th head of the Kikuchi Clan, Kikuchi Taketomo, solicited donations for the building of this shrine. The shrine itself still holds the war fan of the Seisei Shogun (the appointed protector of Kyushu) Prince Kanenaga. He was the song of Emperor Go-Daigo, the head of the Southern Court's forces in Kyushu, and the one that Kikuchi Takemitsu gave his life to protect. And who was Takemitsu? He was the 15th head of the Kikuchi Clan and the grandfather of Taketomo (who probably built the shrine). Read more about it here in my post about Kikuchi Shrine! They're REALLY IMPORTANT PEOPLE in Kumamoto! The main enshrined deity is Hayamikatama-No-Mikoto. He was the first regional administrator (kuni no miyatsuko) of Aso and the great-grandson of the mythical first emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu. Hayamikatama-No-Mikoto is one of the three deities enshrined at Aso Shrine, which he was in fact ordered to build by the Emperor. |
Check out the other posts in this series:
- Part 1: Kikuchi Shrine
- Part 2: Myoren-ji Temple
- Part 4: Yuge Shrine
- Part 5: Soshagu and Nishiura Koujin Shrine