Sumiyoshi Shrine was born on this day, following Ebisu Shrine.
During Mitarai’s early days as a port town, the area in front of Ebisu Shrine was a dock Afterwards, as rival ports increased in the Seto Inland Sea, Mitarai found itself in need of an upgrade. To that end, they set about building a large pier. One year later, Chisago Pier was completed. It’s said that they approached an Osaka merchant over drinks with the question of whether he would help pay to build a shrine to protect the pier. The merchant’s succinct response was understood by all: “Let’s just say, it ain’t a lucky year for me.” Thus, they immediately built a shrine for the sake of the merchant.
Merchants weren’t the only ones who contributed, as many courtesans also donated to the shrine. Take a look at the names carved on the shrine’s stones – these are the names of working women from Wakaebisu-ya. It’s said that the top-ranking oiran held a parade for the shrine upon its completion. Unlike the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter in Edo, Mitarai did not have any gates to mark or explain the nature of a given establishment. Because courtesans were instrumental to Mitarai’s prosperity, the locals never discriminated against them. What, then, could they have prayed for at this shrine?
