When it comes to Kotohira Shrine, many people think of Kotohira Shrine in Toranomon, Minato-ku in Tokyo. This shrine was rebuilt in 2004 and has become a facility integrated with Toranomon Kotohira Tower.
The main shrine of Kotohira Shrine is a shrine in Kotohira-cho, Kagawa Prefecture. In the Edo period, ship distribution became popular, and Kotohira worship was spread throughout Japan by shipping companies and merchants, and branch offices were created throughout Japan.
One of them is Kotohira Shrine, which was founded in Yagenbori (now Higashi Nihonbashi 2-chome) in Tenmei 3 (1783). He was revered as a guardian deity of the sailors of the Sumida River, and after that, along with the development of the town, he gathered the religion of merchants, especially those who work in the food and beverage industry and entertainment.
At present, there are no shrines in Yagenbori, but it was transferred to the grounds of Kanda Myojin in 1929 and became the subsidiary shrine of Kanda Myojin. It is enshrined together with Mishuku Inari Shrine.
In addition, there is Suehiro Inari Shrine in the precincts of Kanda Myojin, which was also enshrined by a bonito wholesaler in Nihonbashikobunacho, but is now relocated as the subsidiary shrine of Kanda Myojin.
Until now, I have written that fish riverbank water shrine and Kobunamachi Yakumo Shrine are enshrined in Kanda Myojin. Kanda Myojin itself is Chiyoda-ku at its current address, but it is clear that there is a deep connection between Chuo-ku and Kanda Myojin, just as most towns on the north side of Nihonbashi River in Chuo-ku are still shrine parishioner in Kanda Myojin.
