Ajiki Tenkei 安食天恵

(1952- ). Founder of the New Religion called Yamato no Miya. Ajiki began the religion in 1977 under the name Kômei no Kai, but changed it to its present name in 1987. Headquartered in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture; reported membership is approximately 5,000.

Links

• Ajiki Tenkei / Healing in the New Religions: Charisma and `Holy Water' (by WATANABE Masako and IGETA Midori)
• Ajiki Tenkei / Healing in the New Religions: Charisma and `Holy Water' (by WATANABE Masako and IGETA Midori)
• Ajiki Tenkei / Translator's Postscript (by Norman Havens)

Akakurasan Jinja 赤倉山神社

Akakurasan Shrine.

A religious group founded in 1942 by a shamanness, Kudô Mura (1887? - 1965). The headquarters is in Nakatsugaru County of Aomori Prefecture; reported membership is appoximately 1,000.

Links

• Akakurayama Jinja / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)

Ama no iwato 天の岩戸

Heavenly Cave.

The mythic "heavenly cave" in which Amaterasu retired following her confrontation with Susanoo. Due to Amaterasu's concealment in the cave, Takama-no-hara fell into darkness and chaos. Takamimusubi and other kami made offerings, recited liturgies, and performed ritual dances and songs in order to lure Amaterasu from the cave. Upon her reappearance, Takami-no-hara was filled with light once again.

Links

• Heavenly Cave / The Festival and Religion Boom: Irony of the "Age of the Heart" (by ASHIDA Tetsurô)
• heavenly cave / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)

Amaterasu ômikami アマテラス (記・紀: 天照大〔御〕神)

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Amaterasu Ômikami.

Links

• Amaterasu / The Origin of Rites of Worship Within The Local Community (by HARADA Toshiaki)
• Amaterasu Ômikami / Religious Space in the Village As Seen through Festival and Legend (by MOGI Sakae)
• Amaterasu Ômikami / Emperor and World Renewal in the New Religions: The Case of Shinsei Ryûjinkai (by TSUSHIMA Michihito)
• Amaterasu Ômikami / The Propagation and Spread of Tenshô Kôtai Jingukyô within Japanese-American Society on Hawaii Island (by NISHIYAMA Shigeru and FUJII Takeshi)
• Amaterasu Ômikami / Healing in the New Religions: Charisma and `Holy Water' (by WATANABE Masako and IGETA Midori)
• Amaterasu Ômikami / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)
• Amaterasu / The Festival and Religion Boom: Irony of the "Age of the Heart" (by ASHIDA Tetsurô)
• Amaterasu ômikami / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)
• Amaterasu ômikami / "Alone among Women": A Comparative Mythic Analysis of the Development of Amaterasu Theology (by MATSUMURA Kazuo)
• Amaterasu ômikami / Magatsubi no Kami and Motoori Norinaga's Theology (by UEDA Kenji)
• Amaterasu ômikami / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)
• Amaterasu ômikami / Sano Tsunehiko and "Divine Principle (Shinri)" (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• Amaterasu ômikami / Immanent Legitimation: Reflections on the "Kami Concept" (by Norman Havens)

Amatsu-kyô 天津教

Kôson Kôtai Jingû Amatsu-kyô. A Shintô-based New Religion founded in 1900 by Takeuchi Kiyomaro (1874-1965) based on an old text known as Takeuchi monjo. Headquartered in Kita-Ibaraki City in Ibaraki Prefecture; no membership figures are available.

Links

• Amatsukô / Emperor and World Renewal in the New Religions: The Case of Shinsei Ryûjinkai (by TSUSHIMA Michihito)

amatsukami 天津神

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Ame-tsuchi, Kami, Takama no Hara.

Links

• amatsukami / Perspectives toward Understanding the Concept of Kami (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• amatsukami / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)
• amatsukami / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)

Amenominakanushi no kami アメ (マ) ノミナカヌシ (記: 天之御中主神、紀: 天御中主尊)

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Amenominakanushi no kami.

Links

• Amenominakanushi no kami / Perspectives toward Understanding the Concept of Kami (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• Amenominakanushi no kami / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)
• Ame no minakanushi no kami / Sano Tsunehiko and "Divine Principle (Shinri)" (by INOUE Nobutaka)

[Masakaakatsukachihayahi] Amenooshihomimi no mikoto 〔マサカアカツカチハヤヒ〕アメ (マ) ノオシホミミ (ネ) (記: 〔正勝吾勝勝速日〕天之忍穂耳命、紀: 〔正哉吾勝勝速日〕天忍穂耳 (骨) (穂根) 尊)

Oshihomimi.

A kami found in the myths of Kiki. Produced by Susanoo from one of Amaterasu's possessions and therefore considered to be her child. Was ordered to decend to the Land of the Reed Plains (Japan), but after the land was pacified, his son Ninigi decended in his place and became ruler of the land.

Links

• Oshihomimi / "Alone among Women": A Comparative Mythic Analysis of the Development of Amaterasu Theology (by MATSUMURA Kazuo)

aramitama 荒魂

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Tama².

Links

• aramitama / Magatsubi no Kami and Motoori Norinaga's Theology (by UEDA Kenji)
• aramitama / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)

Asano Wasaburô 浅野和三郎

(1873-1937). A researcher of psychic phenomenon in the Taishô and early Shôwa period. After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University, Asano worked as an English instructor at the Naval War College. He joined Ômoto in 1916 and became one of its powerful leaders. After the 1921 First Ômoto Incident, he left Ômoto and established an independent group for psychic research.

Links

• Asano / Emperor and World Renewal in the New Religions: The Case of Shinsei Ryûjinkai (by TSUSHIMA Michihito)
• Asano Wasaburô / Emperor and World Renewal in the New Religions: The Case of Shinsei Ryûjinkai (by TSUSHIMA Michihito)

Aso Jinja 阿蘇神社

Aso Shrine.

A shikinaisha shrine in Aso County, Kumamoto Prefecture, particularly known for its performances of Aso Kodai Kagura.

Links

• Kuni no miyatsuko / Basic Terms of Shinto: Kuni no miyatsuko
• Aso Shrine / The Festival and Religion Boom: Irony of the "Age of the Heart" (by ASHIDA Tetsurô)

azusa miko 梓巫

catalpa-bow diviner.

A female shaman who acts as a medium for spirits; known for characteristic ritual use of a catalpa-bow.

Links

• catalpa-bow diviners / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)