Jul.31st, 2021
Hōman-zan Jūroku-mairi
"Hōman-zan Jūroku-mairi" is a traditional custom held at the time one comes of age, dating back to the Edo period. Those who became 16, in the Dazaifu area, climbed Mount Hōman to report that they had grown up to be adults, and tied a strip of paper with a wish written on it to a tree near the top of the mountain. It was told that boys who climbed the mountain would be blessed with money, and girls would be blessed with a good match.
Hōman-zan Jūroku-mairi was revived as a part of the 1350th anniversary of the shrine, in 2013. Every April those who became 16 climb Mount Hōman, lead by the sound of a trumpet shell, after a formal worshipping in the shrine.
Momiji-age
There are over 300 maple trees in Kamado shrine. These trees were planted in the shrine in a traditional custom called "Momiji-age".
In Dazaifu, there is a tradition of, "Ume-age", in which those who became 40 and 60 plant a plum tree in Dazaifu Tenmangū after having a purification ceremony, and march around the area. The following year, in spring, a maple tree is planted in Kamado shrine, as "Momiji-age".
The birthplace of Jōdō
Jōdō is a Japanese martial art, originating from Shintō Musō-ryū jōjutsu founded by a swordsman in Edo period, Musō Gon'nosuke, using a short staff called jō.
After Musō Gon'nosuke lost a duel with Miyamoto Musashi, he secluded himself in Mount Hōman for training. It is told that later he duelled Musashi once again and won, then founded Shintō Musō-ryū jōjutsu.
In Kamado shrine, there is the Musō Gon'nosuke shrine, dedicated for Musō Gon'nosuke, and besides it is a stone memorial of the "The birthplace of Jōdō".
