We previously covered Okata Shrine in Nishitsu when we wrote about the stone monument for the “Taira no Shigemori Castle Ruins (Komatsu Castle Ruins),” but we heard there were other things to see there too, so we went to take a look!
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The Komainu at “Okata Shrine”
Here is the stone monument we came to see this time↓
The komainuare wild boars!
I’m not sure if that’s the right way to put it, but they’re somehow really adorable😍
Even though they’re boars, they still properly form the “A-un” pair.
The one on the right as you face them is the Agyo figure.
From the front… so cute😊
The one on the left as you face them is the Ungyo figure.
On this one, some of the color changes look almost like paint, giving it a fierce presence like the boar from “Princess Mononoke”!
(…but it’s still cute after all😍)
It is said that every year on January 9 in Komatsu, that Ebisu-sama performed the Shishi-uchi ritual, which was believed to prevent disasters such as storm surges and floods and bring abundant harvests. To avoid interfering with this ritual, there was apparently a custom of saigomori, or staying shut indoors.
Wild boars were considered messengers of Ebisu-sama, and boar statues were built to pass this story down to future generations!
Other Spots at “Okata Shrine”
There are more boar statues besides the komainu.
“Ritsugan no Nade-Inoshishi”
Maybe it’s a statue that brings blessings if you rub it?
Behind the boar komainu, at the bottom of the steps to the main shrine building, there are also more typical komainu.
Apparently, the Agyo figure on the right as you face them is a “shishi” lion, while the Ungyo figure on the left is the “komainu.”(*There are various theories.)
Okata Shrine is also home to Hakusangu, a deity of teeth.
I’m prone to cavities😭, so I made sure to pray properly🙏
Location of Okata Shrine
Here’s the map↓↓
The address is 2-2-8 Komatsu Minamimachi, Nishinomiya, Hyogo.
Final Thoughts
Okata Shrine looks like an ordinary neighborhood shrine tucked away in the city, but if you take your time and look closely, there’s actually a lot to see!
There are many shrines in Nishinomiya, but this may be the only one where the komainu are a different animal.
If you ever discover komainu like these at another shrine, please let us know!
