Nunakuma Shrine

**Nunakuma Shrine** is a Shinto shrine in Tomo, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a Shikinaisha. Currently, it is a beppyo shrine under the Association of Shinto Shrines.

The shrine is commonly referred to as 'Gion-san' together with 'Tomogi Ongu'.

## Enshrined deities

Two deities are enshrined at the shrine.

- Main enshrined deity
    - Owatatsumi no Mikoto - The enshrined deity of the old Watarimori Shrine.
- Secondary enshrined deity
    - Susano-no-mikoto - see Gion worship for more info

## History

In the Meiji era, Watasu Shrine and Tomo Gion Shrine were combined and renamed as Numana Shrine according to the Engishiki Jinmyocho. according to the Shrine Consolidation Policy. The shrine continues to enshrine two deities, Owatatsumi-no-Mikoto and Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who were originally enshrined separately by each shrine. In addition, Watarimori Shrine, listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho, is located on the side of the shrine and is still in operation today.

### Watarimori Shrine

Legend has it that Watarimori Shrine, now known as Numana Shrine, was established in the second year of Emperor Chuai's reign. Empress Jingu headed to western Japan and enshrined Watatsumi-no-mikoto on a local sacred stone, praying for safe sea routes. On her way back, she reportedly said to Watatsumi no Mikoto, "Takatomo Izuno." The name "Tomo" is said to have originated from the fact that "tomo" was one of the tools used for bows.

In the Engishiki Jinmyocho, a document from the middle of the Heian period, there is a description of a Shikinaisha called 'Numakuma-jinja Shrine' located in Numakuma District, Bingo Province. The book offers two possible readings of the name, "Nunasaki" and "Nunakuma". However, the location of this Shikinaisha remained unknown. Through historical research after the early modern period, it is currently identified as Watarimori-jinja Shrine, but it is unclear whether it is located in Tomo.

In modern times, Watarimori Shrine is said to enshrine Sarutahiko-no-kami and Funatama-no-mikoto. The shrine was originally located in Gojihira Village or Tomonoseki-cho and was moved to its current location during the Keicho era (1596-1615) as a precinct shrine of Gion Shrine. In the Meireki era (1655-1658), the main shrine was rebuilt by the feudal lord Katsutada Mizuno.

### Tomo Gion Shrine

The shrine itself has no information about the establishment of Tomo Gion Shrine.  It is said to have been founded during the Tencho era (824-834) or during the Hojo era (1156-1159).

The deity enshrined at the Numana Shrine is Susanoo no Mikoto. The shrine was originally located in Tomonoseki-cho but was destroyed in a fire in 1599 and later relocated to its current location.

Some believe that the Tomo Gion Palace may be associated with the "Enokumanokuni Tsuyashiro" mentioned in an excerpt from the "Bingo Province Fudoki". The shrine was worshipped as the local deity of Tomo and received many donations from the lord of the Fukuyama domain, with a shrine site in the area.

### Both shrines after the early modern period

The history of the two companies since the early modern period is as follows.

- In the Edo period, Tomo Gion Shrine was enshrined here, and Watarimori Shrine was built in the precincts of the shrine.
- In 1868 , the name of Tomo Gion Shrine was changed to Susanari Shrine.
- In 1871, this Susanari Shrine became a Shikinaisha, renamed 'Nunana Shrine', and was ranked as a Kokuheishosha under the modern shrine ranking system .
- In May 1875, Watarimori Shrine was changed to Shikinaisha.
- In July 1876, the spirit of Tomori-jinja Shrine was enshrined in the main hall, and the Gion deity was changed to Aiden (master-servant reversal). Funatama-no-mikoto, the enshrined deity of Tomori-sha Shrine, was changed to Owatatsumi-no-mikoto.

## Sources

- Shrine history book
- Precincts explanation board
- "Place names in Hiroshima Prefecture, which are historical place names in Japan " ( Heibonsha ), Fukuyama City, Numanei Shrine
- "Numana Shrine" (Edited by Kenichi Tanikawa "Japanese Gods - Shrines and Holy Lands - 2 Sanyo Shikoku" ( Hakusuisha ))

## Related books

- Edited and supervised by Motohiko Yasutsu and Yoshihiko Umeda, Shinto Dictionary, Jinja Shimposha, 1968, pp. 45-46
- Edited by Eiji Shirai and Masanori Toki, "Jinja Dictionary" Tokyodo Publishing, 1979, 267 pages

## Infobox (religious building)

- **image**: Nunakuma-jinja haiden-2.jpg
- **deity**: Watatsumi