What is the True Japanese Spirit?

Ise Jingu consists of Naiku and Geku.

Amaterasu-Omikami, the ancestral goddess of Japan, is enshrined in Naiku. The most revered kami, or shinto deity, in Japan, she is like the sun, with a brilliance that lights up the heavens. In spite of this, it’s custom to visit Geku first, as Toyouke-Omikami, the kami who provides food to Amaterasu-Omikami, is enshrined here.

Besides “Shikinen Sengu”, the periodic reconstruction of the main halls of Naiku and Geku, all ritual offerings must begin at Geku first. Following this tradition, we will also begin our pilgrimage from Geku and its origins.

Naiku was built almost 2000 years ago.

According to folklore, Amaterasu-Omikami was searching for the ideal location. Upon arriving at Ise, she said, “The eternal waves surge again and again here in Ise, the land of the divine winds. With it, Japan is a beautiful country beside its neighbors. Settle here I shall.”

Amaterasu-Omikami called Ise a land that is “umashi”, which not only means “beautiful”, but “delicious” as well. Blessed with both mountains and the sea, Ise was a utopia. But, no matter how bountiful the harvest, only a cook can make delicious food. This is when the goddess summoned Toyouke-Omikami, the Shinto deity of food.

“I call Toyouke-Omikami to come near.”

Thus, 500 years after Naiku, Geku was built.

*Image: Rejected Picture

However, one would be hasty to conclude that Geku was built only to feed the god in Naiku.

The kanji for food (食) implies how it makes people (人) well (良). Food is indispensable to people and is the ultimate source of energy. This might be the same for the gods. After all, Amaterasu-Omikami needs energy in order to summon her powers. Toyouke-Omikami offers her this support.

For example, every morning and the evening the ritual of “Higoto-asa-yu-omike-sai” is held in Geku. This is the ritual of offering Amaterasu-Omikami food, and in the 1500 years since Geku was founded, it has never once been missed. It’s hard to believe at first; and one wonders what kind of feelings are hidden in its history.

Let’s start our exploration of Ise Jingu by introducing the Higoto-asa-yu-omike-sai ritual.