Mekari Shrine

Mekari-jinja 和布刈神社
The honden, or main shrine
Information
Dedicated to	Emperor Chūai Empress Jingū
Founded	C.200 AD
Address	3492, Moji, Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū Fukuoka 801-0855
Website	Homepage
Glossary of Shinto

Mekari Shrine (和布刈神社, Mekari-jinja^?) is a Shinto shrine located in Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan.

History

The wife of Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū, came here sometime during the legendary military invasion of Korea in the 3rd century. She had Mekari Shrine built as a way of giving thanks to the gods to whom she was indebtted. The present main shrine was rebuilt in 1767 by the Ogasawara clan from Harima.

Mekari Shinji Shinto ritual

In the shrine’s Shinto ritual called Mekari Shinji ^[1], wakame seaweed is cut from the ocean at low tide and offered to an altar in a ceremony conducted in the early morning hours of the first day of the New Year according to the old lunar calendar. The ritual is thought to bring about good luck and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset by Fukuoka prefecture.

See also

• List of Shinto shrines

Gallery

• 

  View of Kanmon Straits from the shrine

• 

  A torii standing with Kanmon Bridge in background

References

1. ^ "Mekari Shinji (Shinto Ritual)". Fukuoka Prefecture. http://www.crossroadfukuoka.jp/en/event/?mode=detail&id=4000000002614&isEvent=1. Retrieved 17 September 2011. 

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Crossroad Fukuoka - Fukuoka Prefecture Tourist Information (English)

Coordinates: 33°57′39″N 130°57′44″E / 33.96083°N 130.96222°E / 33.96083; 130.96222