Spatial Structure of Japanese Religion - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 107

Fig. 3.39 Distribution of
religious facilities in the
Shimo-uchikawa district,
Yoshikawa City, 1997 (The
author's fi eld survey in
August, 1997)
(2) Ko Religious Association
Two types of ko were found in Shimo-uchikawa: the Ujiko organization for the
Oiwa Shrine, and an association to visit famous shrines and temples. This asso-
ciation had seven ko to visit shrines at Togakushi, Mitake, Haruna, and
Kanamura ; the Komine association visited the Furumine shrine; the Itakura
association visited the Itakura Thunder Shrine; and the Narita association vis-
ited the Shinshoji Temple. Figure 3.40 shows the site of each shrine and temple,
and Fig. 3.41 shows the distribution of households joining the Ujiko organiza-
tion of the Oiwa shrine. People could freely join the Ujiko because the Ujiko
required no special qualifi cation, and 93 out of 132 households (70.5 %) joined.
Most non-members were newcomers. Clearly, the inhabitants living in the new
housing units built to the south and north seldom join ko. Mr A, who belonged
to the Higashi group, was in charge of a representative of the Ujiko organiza-
tion, and had no terms or change in Shimo-uchikawa. He and his father became
heads of the area, and Mr A has been a representative since about 1960. Two
households were selected from each group as managers for two years. One of
the manager's tasks was to perform the rites of Oiwa shrine three times a year.