Nomi no Sukune Shrine — Attraction in Tokyo

Nomi no Sukune is the legendary inventor of sumo. According to legend, in the presence of Emperor Suinin he fought another wrestler named Taima no Kehaya, who he kicked to death. This is a shrine to his deified spirit. Apart from the usual features of a Shinto shrine is a monument inscribed with the names of all the yokozuna. Off to the right is a small Inari shrine with its own tori, guarded by the traditional foxes.

This is a very quiet, beautiful shrine that apparently sees no use apart from special occasions, and may have no regular personnel. For my first visit, although it seemed that the vegetation was well-tended, it wouldn't have been possible even to purify oneself before honoring the kami, since the chouzubachi was dry. When I happened by the second time there were obviously preparations going on for some event. This turned out to be the symbolic ring-entering ceremony performed by the new Yokozuna Kisenosato prior to his first Tokyo basho at that rank. The shrine was completely decked out with new shide hanging from the shimenawa, and fresh offerings in both the main and subsidiary shrine. I didn't visit again, so I don't know if these renewed decorations remained after...

Nomi no Sukune, the first sumo wrestler, is enshrined here just a short walk heading east from Ryogoku Station. On the shrine grounds are stones engraved with the names of the yokozuna. Also appended is a smaller shrine dedicated to Inari Okami. I was very glad to be able to pay my respects here and pray for the health and success of...

Nomi-no-Sukune is the God of Sumo and is believed to reside here, making this the spiritual home to Sumo, despite it being a tiny shrine and Yasukuni shrine has the pleasure as being dubbed the...