Spatial Structure of Japanese Religion - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 112

Fig. 3.44 Distribution of households joining a Haruna association in the Shimo-ucchikawa dis-
trict, Yoshikawa City, 1997 (The author's fi eld survey in August, 1997)
In Shimo-uchikawa, people visited several shrines and temples from March
to May. The Oyanagi group has Itakura - ko and Narita-ko. Itakura - ko has
existed since the latter part of the nineteenth century but had only seven mem-
bers. Two members visited Itakura Thunder Shrine every spring until 1995, but
since then the amulets have been sent to the manager by mail. A meeting was
held to select delegates before visiting in March, and the members took turns to
visit Itakura. If no one wished to go, the delegates were chosen by lot. Members
chose a convenient day in March or April to visit. After offering a prayer at the
shrine, they ate a meal with kami, returned, and distributed amulets to each
member at the regular meeting of the neighborhood association. The manager
distributed the amulets mailed by Itakura Thunder Shrine. Each group of