It has been learned that Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is proceeding with procedures to secede from the Shrine Head Office, which encompasses shrines nationwide.
According to the Shrine Headquarters, on the 7th of this month, a document stating that the shrine will be leaving Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was delivered to the Shrine Headquarters.
No reason was given for the withdrawal.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine posted a public notice on its grounds on the 5th of this month announcing the withdrawal, and it is expected that it will take several months before the withdrawal is officially made.
Jinja Honcho is a religious corporation that encompasses over 78,000 shrines, which is approximately 95% of the shrines in Japan, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine has been part of the umbrella organization since it was established in 1945.
A person in charge of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine said, ``We cannot discuss the reason because the process is still ongoing.We will proceed with the process quietly.''
A person in charge of the shrine headquarters said, ``We are confused because we do not understand the circumstances.It is unfortunate that this situation has arisen.''
Regarding the shrine headquarters, Kotohira Shrine in Kotohira Town, Kagawa Prefecture left the shrine in 2020.