Komagata Shrine (Iwate)

Komagata Shrine, located in Mizusawa Nakauenocho, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, is identified with Komagata Shrine of Isawa District in Mutsu Province listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho. The satomiya stands in the former Mizusawa castle town, while the okumiya rises on the summit of Mt. Komagatake (1,129 m) in the Yakeishi range, preserving the typical mountain-shrine configuration of Tohoku. The principal deities are the seven Komagata-no-Okami: the rough soul of Amaterasu-omikami, Amenominakanushi-no-Kami, Ameno-tokotachi-no-Mikoto, Kuni-no-Sazuchi-no-Kami, Akatsu-no-Mikoto (Masakatsuakatsu-Kachihayahi-Ameno-Oshihomimi), Okise-no-Mikoto (Ninigi-no-Mikoto), and Hikoho-no-Mikoto (Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto). The Komagata family includes the kami of the seven generations of the divine age recorded in the upper book of the Kojiki. According to tradition, the shrine was founded in 477 during the reign of Yuryaku Tenno to guard the eastern provinces, and the satomiya was moved to the Mizusawa castle ruins in 1902. It received the rank of Kokuhei Shosha in 1871. The October annual rite features mikoshi processions through Mizusawa.