Tagata Shrine

Tagata Shrine
Religion
AffiliationShinto
DeityMitoshi (御歳神, Mitoshi-no-kami)
Tamahime (玉姫命, Tamahime-no-mikoto)

Tagata Shrine (田縣神社) is a small shrine located in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, near Nagoya Airfield.[1]: 6 

Tagata Shrine is famous for its Harvest Festival Hōnensai, a fertility festival that some foreign tourists have dubbed "penis festival", which is held annually on March 15.[2][3] The festival has received large amounts of attention.[2]

It is near Ōagata Shrine which has a similar yonic festival the Sunday before this festival.[4][1]: 6 

History

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The exact year of foundation for Tagata Shrine is unknown, but it is believed to be over 1500 years old. It is known for combining beliefs related to fertility and agriculture.[1]: 6 

It is listed as a Myojin Taisha in the Engishiki Jinmyocho.

Harvest festival

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Main article: Hōnensai
Hōnensai
Hōnensai at Tagata Shrine in Komaki
Observed byJapan
TypeReligious
SignificanceCelebrates the blessings of a bountiful harvest and all manner of prosperity and fertility
Date15 March
Next time15 March 2025 (2025-03-15)
Hōnensai

Harvest Festival (豊年祭, Hōnensai) is a fertility festival celebrated every year on March 15 at the shrine.[2][3] Hōnen means prosperous year in Japanese, implying a rich harvest, while a matsuri is a festival. The Hōnen festival and ceremony celebrate the blessings of a bountiful harvest and all manner of prosperity and fertility.

Tagata Jinja (田縣神社) in Komaki, Tagata, Aichi Prefecture

The venerated Shinto deities are Mitoshi (御歳神, Mitoshi-no-kami) and female deity Tamahime (玉姫命, Tamahime-no-mikoto). Mitoshi is the son of the Shinto male deity Toshigami (年神) or known by local as Ōtoshi (大歳神, Ōtoshi-no-kami) and grandson of the Shinto deity Susanoo. Tamahime is a princess and the daughter of Ō'arata (大荒田命, Ō'arata-no-Mikoto), the matriarch of Owari clan (尾張氏) of her husband Takeinadane [ja] (健稲種命, Take'inadane-no-mikoto) who were blessed with two sons and four daughters. After her husband's death, she returned to his hometown Arata (situated close to Komaki), encouraged to cultivate with the help of her father Ō'arata, honor and achieved his achievements.[5]

the shrine of the Youbutsu (陽物, lit. "the male object") or ō-owase-gata (大男茎形, lit. "the grand Phallus shape/ object")

In Inuyama City, there is another festival Sunday before at Ōagata Shrine (大縣神社). This festival includes floats shaped like a vulva, which complement the phallic-shaped mikoshi used in the festival.[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hōnen Matsuri (Tagata Shrine).
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  • 鳥居
    torii
  • 奥宮
    Okumiya
  • 願掛け
    wish
  • 珍宝窟
    treasure cave
  • 神体
    object of worship
  • 石柱
    stone pillar
  • 珍呆参
    pastry
  • 豊年祭
    harvest festival
  • 豊年祭
    harvest festival

Access

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Picken, Stuart D. B. (2010-12-28). Historical Dictionary of Shinto (2 ed.). Scarecrow Press.
  2. ^ a b c https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=act-001%3A1959%3A16%3A%3A995
  3. ^ a b Knapp, Bettina L. (1997-01-01). Women in Myth. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-3164-1.
  4. ^ a b D, John (2012-03-24). "Fertility festival (Oh-agata/ Oagata Jinja)". Green Shinto. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  5. ^ "Small village gets real big at ancient celebration". Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
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English websites

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Japanese websites

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