Time flies, and one - twelfth of 2026 is about to end.
At the beginning of this month, which means the beginning of the new year, we quietly held a Shinto ritual to pray to Kanayako Shrine for safety and continued diligence in manufacturing for the year.
The "Kanayago God" to whom prayers are offered is called "Kanayagokami."
He is the god of iron production, worshipped by blacksmiths and foundry workers involved in "Tatara ironmaking," an ancient Japanese method of iron production.
Many people may be familiar with tatara iron smelting, as it was featured in the movie "Princess Mononoke."
The head temple of Kanayago-no-kami is Kanayago Shrine in Shimane Prefecture.
The main hall and worship hall are made entirely of zelkova wood, which is rare nationwide, and the 9m- tall torii gate is said to be the best stone-built in Japan.
This concludes our brief introduction to Kanayago Shrine.
I hope that this year will be another year in which new life is breathed into steel.