New Stories

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  Ōmi Shrine: Emperor Tenji’s Ōtsu Palace Site and the Spiritual Center of Competitive Karuta02/14/2026
  Discover Ōmi Shrine, built on the 7th-century palace site of Emperor Tenji, a ruler who shaped early Japan and inspired classical poetry. Home of competitive karuta.
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  Emperor Tenmu and the Jinshin War: The Origins of the Shikinen Sengu at Ise Jingu01/07/2026
  Emperor Tenmu (?-686, 天武天皇), the 40th emperor of Japan, ascended the throne after winning the Jinshin War, the largest civil conflict in ancient Japanese history. He established the Shikinen Sengu… Read more: Emperor Tenmu and the Jinshin War: The Origins of the Shikinen Sengu at Ise Jingu
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  Ise Jingu Shrine, Geku First and Then Naiku12/26/2025
  Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine), officially called Jingu, consists of 125 Shinto shrines. Crossing the Uji Bridge over the Isuzu River at the entrance of a main shrine, Kotaijingu (Naiku),… Read more: Ise Jingu Shrine, Geku First and Then Naiku