Views of Local Shrines - Where Are Japanese Gods and Goddess in October?

In Japan, people usually call months with Arabic numbers as in “1 Month (January)”, “2 Month (February)”, and “3 Month (March)” and so on. However there is another old-fashioned name for each month which is seldom used nowadays. Interestingly, the old-fashioned name for October is “No-Gods Month”.

As I mentioned previously, Japanese Shinto is a religion based on nature worship, which says that there are countless gods and goddess for everything in nature. These many gods and goddess are colloquially called “Eight Million Gods”.

Yet, apparently October is the time for the annual conference of the “Eight Million Gods”, where all gods and goddess are gathered at Izumo Great-Shrine in Izumo-City, Shimane Prefecture. According to a legend, all shrines but Izumo Great-Shrine are considered to be empty during this month. And therefore, it is literally a month of “No Gods” in most places.

On the contrary, in Izumo-City people call October “Gods-Are-Here Month” traditionally.

The photos are local shrines of west Tokyo and they will be empty now. Maybe, this month wouldn’t be a good time for visiting these shrines to make a wish.