Owatatsumi | Shikaumi Shrine

Current Faith and Worship

He is the supreme sea god who unites all the deities of the sea. Governing the bottom, middle, and upper seas, he is worshipped as a mighty god presiding over maritime tranquility, safe voyages, bountiful catches, and the “control of all life’s rhythms” through the ebb and flow of the tides.

Shrine, Festival, and Historical Deep Dive: Shikaumi Shrine

History & Origins:

An extremely important shrine referred to as the “Headquarters of the Sea Gods.” In ancient Japan, it was enshrined generation after generation by the “Azumi Clan,” descendants of the sea god who possessed exceptional navigation skills operating in the Genkai Sea. He was born when Izanagi-no-Mikoto performed purification (misogi-harai), and Shika Island, where the shrine is located, has been considered sacred ground since ancient times.

Festival:

Ancient rituals such as the Hosha-sai and Yamahome-sai (which praises not only the sea but the “mountains that enrich the sea”) are still strictly passed down today, preserving the form of prayer of the sea people to this day.

Address and Access:

Address: 877 Shikashima, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Access: About 15 minutes by Nishitetsu Bus (bound for Shikashima) from JR Kashii Line “Nishi-Saitozaki” Station, get off at “Shikashima” and walk about 10 minutes. Alternatively, about 30 minutes by municipal ferry from Hakata Pier to “Shikashima Passenger Waiting Area,” then a 10-minute walk after disembarking.

“I am the sea itself. The maternal amniotic fluid, the deep blue that swallows all. The ancient people of Azumi read the stars and wind, crossing the great ocean while appeasing my moods. You now live in a forest of concrete, thinking you know the world just by looking inside a screen. Come to the seaside occasionally. Faced with my vastness, you should realize that the troubles you carry are nothing more than a single grain of salt dissolving in the waves.”