Ancient Faith and Southern Routes of Osumi Peninsula

Tracing Hayato Lineage and the Forgotten Tsukuyomi

Today I traveled south along the Osumi Peninsula, passing through Kagoshima and Miyazaki, tracing the remnants related to the mysterious southern routes of cultural transmission in ancient Japan. The Osumi Peninsula lies on the eastern side of southern Kyushu, and from ancient times, this entire region was home to significant tribes appearing in myths and traditions that remain unresolved. Their faith originates in the Jomon period. In other words, while northern and central Kyushu show clear evidence of intermixing with migrant tribes arriving via the Korean Peninsula beyond the traces of the Jomon people, in the south there were strong indigenous powers that prevented new tribes from advancing, and these people were able to preserve Jomon practices for a long period, making them vital figures in ancient Japanese history. However, the Jomon people of the Osumi Peninsula have rarely been investigated historically, and they remain extremely difficult to understand. From my visit this time, I would like to open a space for insight. The first place I visited was Tsuma Shrine.

This shrine is now written in kanji as 都萬, but in the past it was also written as 妻万, and it is said to have long been worshipped as “妻の宮.” Enshrined here is Konohanasakuya-hime, who became the principal consort of Ninigi after his descent from tenson kōrin and bore him three children. Among them were Umisachi-hiko and Yamasachi-hiko, whom I mentioned yesterday. At that time, since breast milk alone was not sufficient, it is said that amazake was made and used in place of breast milk to raise the children. From then on, women who lacked sufficient milk after childbirth visited this shrine to pray, and old documents note that their milk would then flow, drawing faith from ancient times.