Founded During Kiryu’s Textile Boom
Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine was established in 1901, during a period when Kiryu was experiencing rapid growth as a major textile-producing city.
Kiryu had long been known as a “City of Textiles”, or Shokuto. An often-told story says that, during the Battle of Sekigahara, local weavers produced military banners for Tokugawa Ieyasu in a remarkably short period of time.
As Kiryu’s textile industry expanded, skilled craftsmen and workers came from different parts of Japan, transforming the city into a lively center of manufacturing and commerce.
Ebisu as a Spiritual Guardian of Commerce
As the city grew, local merchants and business owners increasingly turned to Ebisu, one of Japan’s best-known deities of prosperity and good fortune. Community leaders and supporters therefore invited a sacred spirit, or bunrei, from Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture.
Through local donations and the efforts of community members, the shrine buildings were established, creating a spiritual center closely connected with Kiryu’s commercial development.
The shrine thus represents not only religious faith but also the aspirations of the people who helped build Kiryu into a prosperous textile city.
Ebisu and Daikoku: Two Gods of Good Fortune
Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine has an especially auspicious setting because Miwa Shrine, which shares the same grounds, enshrines Ōmononushi Ōkami, traditionally associated in popular worship with Daikoku.
Together with Hiruko Ōkami at Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine, this creates a unique place where Ebisu and Daikoku, two of Japan’s most widely recognized lucky deities, are worshipped side by side.
Visitors come not only to pray for business prosperity, but also for family safety, good fortune, and success in their personal and professional lives.
Kiryu Ebisu-ko: A Major Early-Winter Festival
The shrine’s biggest annual celebration is Kiryu Ebisu-ko, held every year on November 19 and 20. This autumn festival has become one of the characteristic early-winter traditions of Kiryu.
Large numbers of worshippers arrive from Kiryu and surrounding areas, while the approach to the shrine fills with food stalls and vendors selling traditional lucky charms.
Among the most popular items are kuma-de rakes and other auspicious decorations. The rake symbolizes the idea of “raking in” good fortune, making it particularly popular among merchants and business owners.
The Fukuotoko Ceremony
Early on the morning of the main festival day, the Fukuotoko ceremony takes place. At a signal, participants race toward the worship hall, and those who arrive among the first are recognized as Fukuotoko, or “Lucky Men.”
The event follows a tradition associated with the main Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo. In recent years, the Kiryu event has also introduced separate competitions for men and women, reflecting the festival’s continuing evolution.
Kagura, Drums, and Mechanical Puppet Theater
The festival features a variety of traditional performances at the shrine’s kagura hall.
Visitors may see sacred kagura dances performed by the Shirataki Kagura group, energetic Ebisu drum performances**, and traditional karakuri puppet theater.
The puppet performances are particularly appropriate for Kiryu, a city with a long weaving tradition. Some scenes depict mechanical figures actually recreating the movements of weaving, combining traditional technology, local history, and entertainment.
The Origins and Meaning of Ebisu Worship
Ebisu is one of Japan’s most familiar deities of good fortune. He is traditionally associated with Hiruko, a figure who appears in the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest surviving literary chronicle.
Over time, Ebisu came to be worshipped as a deity who brings good fortune. His earliest associations were particularly strong with fishing and maritime activities, but his role gradually expanded to include commerce and business.
Today, Ebisu is widely known as a god of prosperity and good luck, especially among merchants and business owners.
How to Pray at a Japanese Shinto Shrine
A visit to Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine is also an opportunity to experience a traditional Shinto form of worship.
Before approaching the worship hall, visitors generally use the temizuya, or purification pavilion, to rinse their hands and mouth. At the worship hall, they place an offering in the offering box, ring the bell, and traditionally follow the two bows, two claps, one bow procedure.
The two claps are a gesture of respect toward the deity. While visitors are welcome to follow the traditional procedure, the most important part of the visit is approaching the shrine respectfully and expressing gratitude and personal wishes sincerely.
Lucky Charms and the Traditional Kiryu Handclap
During Ebisu-ko, visitors can purchase traditional lucky items such as kuma-de rakes and otakara, another type of auspicious decoration.
When such lucky items are purchased, a traditional handclapping custom known as the Kiryu-jime, or “Kiryu closing,” may be performed.
The Meaning of the Kiryu-jime
The traditional rhythm is based on a sequence of three, three, three, followed by a final clap. The three sets of three make nine, and adding the final clap makes ten.
The number ten is associated with the expression of bringing matters to a complete and harmonious conclusion. This custom reflects the energetic character of Kiryu’s commercial culture and the community’s hopes for continued prosperity.
Sharing Good Fortune with the Community
Kiryu Ebisu-ko offers many ways for visitors to participate in the celebration.
One popular activity is fukumaki, in which lucky bags and other items are thrown from the kagura hall for people to catch. Another is the Ebisu Shofuku Lottery, in which participants can receive a lucky item intended to be kept until the following year.
The festival also offers special foods and sweets, including Ebisu tai-ame, candy shaped like a sea bream, and limited-edition Japanese confectionery created especially for Ebisu-ko.
Many of these treats are produced by long-established local businesses, creating a delightful connection between Kiryu’s food culture, commercial traditions, and religious celebrations.
A Living Tradition Connecting Past and Future
Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine is more than a sightseeing destination. It has developed alongside Kiryu’s textile industry and has served for generations as a place where local people express their hopes for prosperity, safety, and the future.
The shrine reflects the aspirations of the merchants and residents who helped develop Kiryu, while the annual Ebisu-ko continues to bring those traditions into contemporary community life.
At the same time, the festival continues to incorporate new ideas while preserving its traditional ceremonies, performances, lucky charms, and community customs.
Experience Kiryu’s Culture Through Ebisu-ko
For travelers visiting Kiryu, Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine offers a fascinating way to explore the connection between Japanese religious traditions, commerce, textiles, and local community life.
A quiet visit outside the festival season provides an opportunity to appreciate the shrine’s history and peaceful atmosphere. Visiting during Ebisu-ko on November 19 and 20 offers a completely different experience, with crowded streets, food stalls, traditional performances, lucky charms, and the lively atmosphere of a major local festival.
Standing within the grounds of Miwa Shrine, where Ebisu and Daikoku are worshipped together, visitors can discover a distinctive part of Kiryu’s cultural heritage.
When exploring this historic textile city, consider visiting Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine and experiencing the traditions that have connected faith, prosperity, craftsmanship, and community for more than a century.