Enshrined in Kazenomiya is the god of wind, who blows away pests and carries in rain clouds to the fields. What’s more, this god is said to have blown the “kamikaze” (divine wind) to protect Japan from Mongolian invasion.

The god of land is enshrined in Tsuchinomiya. As the other shrines face south, it’s a mystery as to why Tsuchinomiya faces the east. Though the reason remains uncertain, it could be that Tsuchinomiya is older than the Grand Shrine, and that the god of the area, before Geku was founded, became the land god.

Prayer for the Japanese is prayer for survival. In a country of many earthquakes and typhoons, happiness can be lost in an instant. To prevent this, the Japanese seek to appease the gods. They revere the gods with both a sense of fear and respect. By holding many festivals and offerings, the thought was that the gods would somehow bless them in return.

Although it’s said that personal prayers are forbidden in Ise Jingu, in reality, people can pray as they choose. Expressing gratitude to the surrounding environment that has allowed you live and to hope that your surroundings may remain unchanged could be the most appropriate prayer. There are some who say that praying at Ise Jingu makes them feel good. This isn’t the case when reciting prayers for “good health” or “success on an exam”. Rather, this good feeling probably emanates from honestly expressing gratitude to nature and people surrounding you.