A man bowed at the bronze torii of the Hirakawa Tenmangu Shrine and then proceeded inside

Man bowing at the torii of Hirakawa Tenmangu Shrine

When you think of Tenmangu Shrine, you probably think of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu or Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, but there is another Tenmangu Shrine in Hirakawacho, in the middle of Tokyo, not far from the Imperial Palace. It is a Shinto shrine located in a narrow precinct surrounded by buildings.

Although it is not as popular as Dazaifu Tenmangu or Kitano Tenmangu, Yushima Tenmangu is said to be the most popular Tenmangu in Tokyo. The fact that there is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane in Hirakawacho, not far from Yushima, is proof that the belief in Tenjin (Sugawara no Michizane) was common among people in the past. According to Toyo Keizai Online's "Names of Many Shrines and Temples in Japan (published on March 20, 2016)," Tenmangu Shrine is also a major force with more than 1,200 shrines, although it is not as big as Hachiman Shrine and Hachimangu Shrine. They are located in every corner of the country.

Even though the days of evil spirits of mountains and rivers, when the divine spirit of Sugawara no Michizane was relied upon, have passed, Sugawara no Michizane, transformed into a god of literature, poetry, calligraphy, and performing arts, or a god of mercy, is still revered as a god of learning. Throughout the ages, Sugawara no Michizane has been transformed into a god that fits the modern age, which is said to be an academic society.

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