Kehi Jingu

Kehi Jingu, located in Akebono-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, is the ichinomiya of the former Echizen Province and one of the few shrines bearing the jingu rank. The principal deity is Izasawake-no-Mikoto, with attendant deities Chuai Tenno, Empress Jingu, Ojin Tenno, Yamato Takeru, Tamahime-no-Mikoto, and Takenouchi-no-Sukune. The Nihon Shoki entry on Empress Jingu records her stop at Tsuruga during her Korean expedition together with Takenouchi-no-Sukune and the crown prince Ojin. The Kojiki entry on Chuai Tenno records that Takenouchi escorted the crown prince to meet the Kehi-no-Okami at Tsunuga in a name-exchange that gave rise to the names Miketsu-no-Okami and Kehi-no-Okami. It is recorded in the Engishiki Jinmyocho of 927 as the seven-seat Kehi Shrine in Tsuruga District, Echizen Province, a Myojin Taisha. The great wooden torii (1645), measuring 10.93 m high, is an Important Cultural Property and counted among the three great wooden torii of Japan. The Tsuruga Matsuri held September 2-15 is one of the three great Hokuriku festivals.