Kameido Tenjin

Have you already made any New Year resolutions? Start learning new subject?  Keep studying foreign language? Or, are you challenging to an exam for next spring, entrance examination, or, to get certificate/license, etc., etc.

Or, do you wish the success in exams of your relatives, friends, or acquaintances?

If you are any of the above, we suggest you to visit Kameido Tenjin Shrine、Koto-Ku、Tokyo.

Kameido Tenjin is the place for warship the deity, “Tenjin sama”, god of “Learning”, or god of “Study”, when people want to pray for wishes anything related to educations, school, and intelligence all the time.

This is one of shrines of Shintoism, Japanese indigenous religion, and was built 17^th century, in Kameido, north eastern part of Koto-Ku.

Michizane Sugawara

The Deity, “Tenjin”  is deified spirit of Michizane Sugawara, born in Kyoto, year 845 and there were many anecdote about his genius talent from very early ages, as well as the beautiful poem which was read by him at age 5.  Through years, he was highly acknowledged by the emperor and promoted to serve as the trusted minister of the Right.  However, his outstanding promotion, and his distinguished results in literatures, he fell victim of slender by Fujiwara clan, who was the most powerful authority in that period.  And he was demoted and expelled to southern part of Japan, Dazaifu, and year 901.

His life in Dazaifu was remorsefulness and hardship, but he decided to spend his days without blaming the god, nor getting angry to people in the capital, Kyoto.  For two years, till his death of age 59, year 903, he made his best efforts to continue his academic studies and left quite a number of excellent literatures.

After the death, he has been respected by people, and worshiped as the deity of the study because of his intelligence and plenty of his works in the literature.  Around Japan, quite a large number of shrines were built to worship Michizane, and those shrines were called Tenjin, and about 12000 Tenjin shrines are across Japan. 

And, 700 year after, one descendant of Michizane Sugawara, has received the revelation of his dream which is to enshrine Michizane at an appropriate location.  After exploring several l locations, he has fortunately been offered the piece of land by Iyetsuna, the 4^th Shogun of Tokugawa government who had deep respect for Michizane,  = the deity of study = Tenjin,  for years.

Main hall of Kameido Tenjin

1662 was the time when Kameido Tenjin Shrine was built,  since then, though the building has been suffered from natural disasters and burning out by air raid during World War II, the Shrine itself has been at the current place, Kameido, Koto-Ku.

Apricot trees at yard

In the precinct yard of the Shrine, there are many relics and moments from Dazaifu.

Among all, Ume (Japanese apricot ) trees are very famous for this Shrine.  As Michizane= Tenjin, was very fond of apricot trees, here in Kameido-Tenjin, you can find more than 250 plum trees, with 50 varieties in colors, and shapes, in early spring.

This is the poem composed by Michizane,  "Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers! Please do not forget the spring even though your master has left from you. When a wind blows from the east, please make sure to send me your sweet scent." 

Besides Ume (Japanese apricot), Kameido Shrine is famous for the beautiful wisteria late April to early May.

Next month, we are planning a walking tour to see the plum blossoms at Kameido-Tenjin. The details will be coming soon in this KEV blog site.   

by Y.T

Are you interested in unique Japanese culture?
If so, please join our  free walking tours!

P.S. Tours for Kameido-Tenjin is coming soon !