Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is proceeding with procedures to secede from the Shrine Head Office. Jinja Honcho is a religious corporation that encompasses over 78,000 shrines, which is approximately 95% of the shrines in Japan.
No reason was given for the withdrawal, and it is expected that it will take several months before the withdrawal is officially made. A person in charge of the shrine headquarters said, ``We are confused because we do not understand the circumstances''