Cape Kamui

A cape located at the westernmost tip of the Shakotan Peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of ​​Japan in western Hokkaido. It belongs to Shakotan Town under the jurisdiction of the Shiribeshi Regional Development Bureau. It is a remnant of agglomerate rock that has been eroded, and the tip of the cape is an 80-meter-high cliff. It is said that the name of the cape originated from the fact that there is a large rock (Kamui-iwa) in the sea in front of the cape that looks like a monk's cape, and the Ainu people called it "Kamui" (god). During the days of sailing ships, it was a difficult place to navigate, along with Cape Ofuyumisaki and Cape Mottamisaki, and was known as one of the Three Dangerous Capes of Ezo or the Three Dangerous Capes of Western Ezo. Ships passing by here would lower their sails and throw rice and sake into the sea as offerings to the gods, praying for a safe voyage. A lighthouse was built at the tip of the cape in 1888 (Meiji 21). Until 1856 (Ansei 3), women were not allowed to enter the area beyond the cape, and the folk song "Esashi Oiwake" includes the lyrics, "Do you have any grudges? Why does the god of power stop women from walking?" The area is part of the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Coast National Park.

[Hideyoshi Segawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北海道西部、日本海に突き出る積丹半島(しゃこたんはんとう)の最西端にある岬。後志(しりべし)総合振興局管内の積丹町に属す。集塊岩が侵食されて残ったもので、岬端(こうたん)は高さ80メートルの断崖(だんがい)となっている。岬前方の海中に僧帽を被(かぶ)ったような大岩（神威岩）があり、アイヌ人が「カムイ」（神）とよんだのが地名のおこりという。帆船時代には、雄冬岬(おふゆみさき)、茂津多岬(もったみさき)とともに蝦夷三険岬(えぞさんけんみさき)とか西蝦夷三険岬とよばれる航海の難所であった。ここを通る船は帆を下ろし、神へ捧(ささ)げる米や酒を海中に投じて航海の安全を祈ったという。1888年（明治21）岬端に灯台が設けられた。また1856年（安政3）までは、この岬から奥地は女人禁制で、民謡『江差追分』にも「恨みあるかよ御神威様はなぜに女の足とめる」と歌い込まれている。ニセコ積丹小樽(おたる)海岸国定公園に属す。

［瀬川秀良］

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