Marcionの匣
お悩み相談
Good for all! A guide to “〇〇 Shrine” which brings good fortune
１．Spring is the season for visiting shrines!
Spring is the perfect season for visiting famous temples and shrines, as various flowers bloom in the mild climate. Famous shrines and temples in Kyoto and Shimane are wonderful, but there are also small shrines in the countryside that have unique benefits that are not found elsewhere. At the time of the new fiscal year, when many people will start a new life, I will introduce some unique shrines with unique benefits this time!
２．What is the common specialty of Hyogo Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture?
This is quite sudden, but do you know that there is a common specialty product between Hyogo Prefecture in the Kinki area and Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku area, which are far apart from each other? The answer is… it’s “octopus”!
In the Sanriku region of Miyagi Prefecture, the Higashi no Yu that has been praised as a place where the highest quality octopus can be caught along with “Shizugawa in the east and Akashi in the west” since ancient times, there is a shrine that worships that “octopus”.
３．A god who worships “octopus”!?
A shrine that enshrines “octopus”, its name is straightforward as “Hachimantakou Shrine”!
It is a shrine that wishes for the longevity and prosperity of all the countless octopuses, as well as giving happiness to people. …
I’m worried about the resource of Pacific Ocean if they increase so much, but I guess there’s no need to worry as long as there are Japanese people in this world.
４．Let’s go to the “Octopus Shrine”!
The nearest station is along the Kesennuma Line, which overlooks the calm Sanriku Sea.
There are octopus banners fluttering at the fish shops, but we have to resist them because we are going to visit the god of octopus this time.
The divine messenger (the servant of the god) is of course a bright red “octopus”.
It sits in the shrine grounds with a mysterious presence. There is a tension that makes you feel like you will be sprayed with black ink if you do anything disrespectful. It was a good decision not to eat octopus after all.
The shrine grounds are spacious and fresh, surrounded by a pleasant air like the open sea. Perhaps even people who prefer squid will be warmly welcomed if they visit.
However, please be careful not to make careless remarks such as “Octopus is best in Akashi, right?” as you may get cold stares from the local residents.
５．The benefits of the Octopus Shrine.
The benefits are derived from the number eight, which resembles an octopus's leg and symbolizes prosperity. They include good luck, business prosperity, fulfillment of wishes, safe childbirth and prosperity of descendants (due to the reason that an octopus carefully protects and nurtures its young), matchmaking and knotting a love tie (due to the reason that an octopus's suckers don't let go), and protection from disasters, diseases, and misfortunes (due to the reason that an octopus squirts ink to ward off enemies). There are different kinds of benefits. Recently, some people also pray for passing exams and achieving success by using the wordplay “Okutopasu (Octopus), oku (put) and pass”. The power of octopus is not to be underestimated!
６．Omikuji and Goshuin
Omikuji box
Omikuji
Since I've come all this way, I decided to draw an Omikuji.
It looks like a regular Omikuji.
The prophecy written on it is also... just ordinary, or not!"
Those who draw this fortune will receive the help of octopus in everything. Happiness will come from all directions and stick to you like suckers. It is better not to eat octopus if you want more good luck.”
Can you believe it, even the fortune-telling results are somehow related to octopuses! Isn't the content unique?
It seems like a greater good luck, but… I would be troubled if I can’t eat octopus for the rest of my life. Let’s tie it to a branch and reset it.
The Goshuin has a design of an octopus in the center. With this, you can feel the god of octopus at home anytime.
７．Lastly
After finishing the visit, I was finally able to have a seafood bowl on the way back.
I asked the shop owner, “Don’t I get punished for having a seafood bowl near the god of octopus?” He said, “The god of octopus? No, that’s just a normal Hachiman shrine. If we make octopus a god, we can’t do business (laugh)”
I said, “Oh, that makes sense! But still, the octopus in Shizugawa is the best!! I’ll have another octopus sashimi!”
…OK!
Well, it’s time to reveal the truth!
I’m sorry, but everything above was a lie for April Fool’s Day!
There is no such shrine as “Hachiman Tako Shrine” (probably)!
I sincerely apologize if anyone believed it.
However, it is true that the octopus in Miyagi is delicious, so please try to compare the octopus from Akashi and Shizugawa in the coming summer. The suckers of the octopus will surely bring good fortune to you… hopefully!
８．For reference
However, there are real shrines that have octopus Goshuin, amulets, and “Octopus-kun”. They are truly popular among students who are taking exams. If you love octopus and want to get a Goshuin, please contact the following shrines. They will also send it by mail for those who live far away!
Address: 243 Mizukuchi-sawa, Iriya, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture
Access: 5 minutes by car from Shizugawa Interchange of Sanriku Coastal Road
※Note, this article is entirely a work of personal creation. I sincerely request that no inconvenience is caused to the above-mentioned shrine.