According to the God Names Book of Harima, Misaki Shrine was one of 13 shrines of Akash county and built in the middle of 14 century. It was a prestigious Sanno 21 Shrine Great Gongen Shrine and renamed Misaki Shrine as the Meiji Restoration. In the legend “the boat and soul of iron men” related to this shrine, Sanno Gongen got rid of evil spirit by a bow and an arrow, so they made the scene the Shinto ritual. This Shinto ritual has continued for about 350 years since it began in 1672. That was designated as Akashi City Designated Folk Cultural Property and is herited by the local preservation society.
The first archer, four archers and five children perform the Shinto ritual in the middle of January. Five archers and children ware the formal costume for samurai. After the first archer aims at the sky and the earth, and shoots an artow at a target, five archers shoot arrows to the sky at the same time four times. And the children pick the arrows and offer them to the altar to pray for a good harvest and a big catch. That is the end of the ceremony.
Akashi heritage-map “Fujie･Matsue” 2021
