普通の外にいくつかの著名な品質を持っている、と畏敬の念を起こさせるあるいかなるビーイングは、カミと呼ばれています。
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My database contains sixteen shrines located in Ginza in Chuo-ku in the heart of Tokyo. Of these sixteen, eleven are Inari Jinja meaning that there is one Inari Jinja for every 270 of Ginza’s resident population. I suspect that this is the lowest such number in Japan, and by extension in the world. Of course the number for daytime population—people working in shops and offices, sightseers, shoppers etc—is much higher. I haven’t been able to find a figure for Ginza’s daytime population but for Chuo-ku as a whole the daytime/resident population ratio is 3.84: applying this to Ginza the number of Inari Jinja per head of daytime population rises from 270 to 1,038, still a very low number. Five of the eleven are described on this page, I will be adding more in due course.
These shrines are all very small and often quite difficult to find. Some are down alleyways and most of them are seemingly pressed into the side of buildings. "Easy to photograph" is not a phrase which readily springs to mind when describing them.
Azuma Inari Jinja あづま稲荷神社
Ginza5-9-19 Enshrined Kami: Ukanomitama-Mikoto: 稲倉魂命 Annual Festival: the year's first Day of the Horse
The shrine is located on a street of the same name, Azuma-dori , and after WWII this street and a small alleyway named Mihara-komichi developed into a main street. However, a series of fires broke out and the bemused local residents tried to work out what they should do. The conclusion was that as there was an Inari Jinja on the corner of the street they should form an association with Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Daimyojin. The shrine was named Azuma Inari Daomyojin and a delegation visited Fushimi Inari Taisha to receive the latter’s blessing. This was forthcoming, and there have been no fires in the area ever since.
Asahi Inari Jinja 朝日稲荷神社
Ginza 3-8-12 Enshrined Kami: Ukanomitama-Mikoto: 稲倉魂命 Annual Festival: the year's first Day of the Horse
This shrine is thought to be very old, but during the Great Ansei Earthquake of 1855 it was flattened and fell into what was then the Sanjiken River. In 1917 Ginza was badly affected by flooding and a spirit body which appeared from the Sanjiken River was enshrined there. However, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1926 again caused much damage, and the shrine fell under the authority of the Ginza 3-chome town council. Filled with awe and fear at what had happened the town’s worshippers moved to have the shrine designated as the guardian deity of the town. At that time though the shrine’s land was incorporated into Tokyo City and fell under its authority. The worshippers asked Tokyo City to return the land but their plea was rejected. However, the city did agree that the residents could use the land and a new shrine was built. As with much else in Tokyo, the shrine was completely destroyed in WWII. Reconstruction was completed by 1952 and along with Religious Organization status the shrine took its current name.
The structure in the photos is the prayer hall, the haiden. The main hall, the honden, is on the roof of the building, and the two are connected by a pipe, allowing worshippers at least spiritual communication.
Enbujo Inari Daimyojin 演舞場稲荷大明神
Ginza 6-18-2
“Enbujo” is the Shimbashi Kabuki Theatre and the shrine is part of the Theatre Building. Most of the people praying there are hoping to become Kabuki actors themselves or wishing good health and fortune for actors they follow.
Toyoiwa Inari Jinja 豊岩稲荷神社
Ginza 7-8-14 Enshrined Kami: Ukanomitama-Mikoto: 稲倉魂命 Annual Festival: April 15
Founded by Yasuda Sakubei, a vassal of Akechi Mitsuhide, the latter probably best known as having caused Oda Nonunaga to commit suicide. From the early Edo Period Toyoiwa Inari Jinja has been known for its divine graces of fire prevention and matchmaking. The famous Kabuki actor, Ichimura Uzaemon XV (1874-1945), was a well-known patron of the shrine.
Saiwai Inari Jinja 幸稲荷神社
Ginza 1-5-13 Enshrined Kami: Uka-no-mitama-kami 宇迦之御魂神
It is said that during the Edo Period a sword (tachi) market was held in the area and the shrine was known as Tachiuri Inari. Be that as it may, these days the main divine grace of the shrine is tying the love knot.
