Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:
Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:
Moroguchi Shrine: Home to Moroki-hime—Guardian of the Sea
諸口神社の「もろき姫」—海の安全と豊漁を祈る場所
Moroguchi-jinja (諸口神社) is an ancient Shinto shrine nestled deep among majestic Japanese matsu (pine) trees, just a short walk from the torii gate that overlooks Heda Port in the small fishing town of Numazu, located in Shizuoka Prefecture—about 150 km (93 mi) southwest of Tokyo.
The first photo features the roofed purification fountain, where visitors cleanse their hands and rinse their mouths in a ritual called temizuya before approaching the main shrine. Located at the tip of Mihama Cape facing Heda Port, Moroguchi-jinja is dedicated to the guardian deity of sailors and fishermen.
Although the shrine’s exact origins have been lost to history, it is believed to date back to Japan’s medieval period. The shrine likely takes its name from the deity Moroki-hime (もろき姫), who is enshrined here. Supporting this theory, historical records compiled in 927 reference even older texts from the Middle Ages that mention a shrine in the Izu Province dedicated to Moroki-hime.
In 1879, the Meiji Government officially recognized Moroguchi-jinja as a village shrine during a nationwide effort to catalog and designate Shinto shrines.
The current structure was rebuilt in 1953. Most recently, on April 4th, local ship owners, members of the fishing cooperative, and their families gathered here for a small festival to pray for safe voyages and bountiful harvests at sea.
The scent of pine needles, damp earth, and salty sea breeze filled the shrine grounds, carried on strong coastal winds that rustled through the trees. Just beyond the surrounding woodlands, the rhythmic crash of waves along the nearby shoreline echoed softly through the stillness.
For the local sailors and their families, I imagine this shrine holds a far deeper meaning than it does for a visitor like myself. The sea is not only their livelihood—it is also a source of uncertainty and danger. Here, beneath the ancient pines and the care of Moroki-hime, they come to seek protection, give thanks, and show reverence to the forces of the sea.
- Timestamp: 2025/03/19・6:29
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- 73 mm ISO 100 for 2.5 sec. at ƒ/11
- Timestamp: 2025/03/19・6:39
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- 28 mm ISO 100 for 2.0 sec. at ƒ/9
References:
Copyright Notice for All Images:
© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.
Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.
No comments:
Post a Comment