Watatsu Shrine

Located in Ioka, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture. Formerly a small national shrine. The deity enshrined is Isotakeru no Mikoto, with Ooyazuhime and Kakutsuhime as co-enshriners. It is said that in the past, Watatsumi no Kami was also enshrined (Sado-shi). Isotakeru no Mikoto was the son of Susanoo no Mikoto, and followed his father to Silla, then returned to Izumo and crossed over to Kii, earning him the title of Watatsumi. The date of its founding is unclear, but it has been highly revered by the Imperial Court since ancient times, and in 1080 (Shoryaku 4), a diviner ordered the shrine priest to perform a middle purification ritual (Miyashu Himitsu Kuden). It has been famous since ancient times as the Ichinomiya (first shrine) of the province and as the great shrine that protects the northern part of the Kaihoku region. In the Middle Ages, the shrine was temporarily relocated twice due to floods, but was later moved to its original location. The annual festival is held on April 23rd, and features a Yabusame (horseback archery) ceremony.

[Takafusa Hiraizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新潟県佐渡(さど)市飯岡に鎮座。旧国幣小社。祭神はは五十猛命(いそたけるのみこと)で、大屋(おおや)津姫と抓津(かくつ)姫を配祀(はいし)する。古くは海童神(わたつみのかみ)を祀(まつ)っていたともいう（『佐渡志』）。五十猛命は素盞嗚尊(すさのおのみこと)の子で、父尊に従い新羅(しらぎ)に至り、出雲(いずも)に帰り紀伊に渡ったことより渡津の号を称されたという。創建はさだかでないが、古来朝廷の崇敬厚く、1080年（承暦4）の御卜(みうら)により、社司に中祓(なかはらえ)を科したことがみえる（「宮主秘事口伝」）。当国一宮(いちのみや)として、また海北鎮護の大社として古来著名であった。中世に二度ほど洪水により一時社地を移したことがあるが、のち旧地に遷宮した。例祭は4月23日で流鏑馬(やぶさめ)式が催される。

［平泉隆房］

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