Nomi Tsukune Jinja

This jinja bears the name of the Kami of the Sumo world, Nomi Tsukune.  The Takasago Sumo stable used to be located to the east of the current site of the shrine.  The shrine itself was founded in 1884 on the site of the former residence of the Tsugaru family largely through the efforts of Takasago Uragoro, the founder of the stable which bears his name and is still active today. Nomi Tsukune was enshrined there the following year.
The shrine was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and again in the US firebombing of May 1945. Reconstruction took place in 1953. At that time the Japan Sumo Association erected a large stone monument to commemorate previous sumo grand champions (Yokozuna, 横綱).
Prior to the opening of the sumo tournament held at the Kokugikan Arena on May 10th or 11th each year a ceremony attended by the chairman of the Sumo Association and the head judge of the Referee’s Association is held at the shrine. The highlight of the ceremony is a reenactment of the new yokuzuna entering the ring.