Namba Yasaka Shrine

Between the buildings of Namba, Osaka, an enormous lion's head gapes open its mouth. This is the Shishiden of Namba Yasaka Shrine. The shrine, a former village-rank shrine, enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto as its chief deity together with Kushinadahime-no-Mikoto and Yahashira-no-Mikogami, and has long been worshiped as the guardian deity of the Namba area. According to shrine tradition, it was once called "Naniwa Shimo-no-Miya."

It is said to have begun in the reign of Emperor Nintoku, when Gozu Tenno was enshrined to quell an epidemic. By the Enkyu era (1069-1073) it was known as an old shrine enshrining Gion Gozu Tenno. In the separation of Shinto and Buddhism after the Meiji Restoration, the affiliated temple was abolished, and in 1872 the shrine was ranked as a village shrine. The shrine buildings burned in the first Osaka air raid in 1945, and the present main sanctuary and worship hall were completed in May 1974.

The Shishiden was built during that reconstruction. Standing on the west side of the main sanctuary, it is a stage in the shape of a lion's head, about 12 m tall. It is said to have been built with the idea of making "something that would surprise the people of Osaka," and to have been modeled on the evil-warding lion dance long popular in Namba. The lion's head itself serves as the stage, a striking design.

In the grounds, besides the worship hall, are auxiliary shrines including Sasayama Shrine (dedicated to Shinoyama Jubei Kagezaki), Inari Shrine, Sanpo Kojin Shrine, Ichikishimahime Shrine and Kotai Shrine. There is also a monument with a cover from the main gun of the battleship Mutsu. The shrine is believed to bring blessings for winning luck, academic progress and business prosperity.

Among its annual events, the Tsunahiki Shinji (tug-of-war rite), held on the third Sunday of January each year, is the best known. The rite was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Osaka City in 2001. The summer festival, the Naniwa Gion Festival (Namba Festival), is held from July 12 to 14: July 12 is the boat procession, July 13 the eve festival, and July 14 the main festival with a land procession.

It is about a 6-minute walk from Namba Station on the Midosuji and Yotsubashi subway lines, and 7 to 8 minutes on foot from Nankai Namba Station and JR Namba Station. The grounds are not large, so 30 minutes is enough for worship and a look at the Shishiden. Combine it with Osaka landmarks such as Hozenji Yokocho, Kuromon Market and Tsutenkaku, and it fits easily into a stroll around Namba.