Akama Shrine ( 赤間神宮 , Akama Jingū ) is a Shinto shrine in Shimonoseki , Yamaguchi Prefecture , Japan . It is dedicated to the child Emperor Antoku , who died in the Battle of Dan-no-ura (aka Dannoura), which occurred nearby in 1185. This battle was important in the history of Japan because it brought an end to Genpei War in which the Minamoto clan defeated the rival Taira clan , and ended the Taira bid for control of Japan.
11-765: The shrine is situated on the waterfront of the Kanmon Strait , between the centre of Shimonoseki and the tourist restaurants of Karato , Kanmon Wharf. The bright red main gate makes it a very visible sight. The colours and style of the gate are inspired by Ryūgū-jō , according to the Shimonoseki Tourist Guidebook published by the Shimonoseki City Tourism Department. This source states that Antoku's grandmother, Nii-no-Ama , who drowned with Antoku, wished for their palace to be created underwater as she jumped into
22-597: Is a suspension bridge crossing the Kanmon Straits , a stretch of water separating two of Japan 's four main islands. On the Honshū side of the bridge is Shimonoseki ( 下関 , which contributed Kan to the name of the strait) and on the Kyūshū side is Kitakyushu , whose former city and present ward, Moji ( 門司 ), gave the strait its mon . The Kanmon Bridge was opened to vehicles on November 14, 1973 and connected to
33-461: Is a number of Kanmon Tunnels which carry the Sanyō Shinkansen , trains, cars, and even one for pedestrians at the narrowest point. The first railway tunnel was opened on November 15, 1942. The highway tunnel was opened on March 9, 1958. The Kanmonkyo Bridge (see photo) was opened to vehicles on November 14, 1973. The Shinkansen tunnel was opened on March 10, 1975. The Kanmon straits is also
44-612: Is held in August every year. The Voyager pleasure boat departs from Moji-kō and cruises the straits. Helicopter joyrides are available from Kaikyo Dramaship in Moji-kō. In October 2005, one of the world's largest airships currently flying (a Zeppelin NT imported from Germany) also passed through Moji on an all-Japan tour. This airship was purchased by Nippon Airship Corporation in June 2004 and
55-597: The Kitakyushu Airport at low cost. Western maps from the 19th century also refer to this waterway as the Straits of Van der Capellen . The total population of the Kanmon area is about 1.3 million, counting the whole of Kitakyushu (approx. one million) and Shimonoseki (approx. 300,000), although detailed definitions vary widely (see Fukuoka–Kitakyushu ). The Kanmon Straits Summer Fireworks Festival
66-582: The Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating Honshu and Kyushu , two of Japan's four main islands. On the Honshu side of the strait is Shimonoseki ( 下関 , which contributed "Kan" ( 関 ) to the name of the strait) and on the Kyushu side is Kitakyushu , whose former city and present ward, Moji ( 門司 ), gave the strait its "mon" ( 門 ). The straits silt up at the rate of about 15 centimetres per annum, and dredging has made it possible to build
77-701: The characters in a traditional ghost story which was made known in the west by Lafcadio Hearn . The grounds also contain the Nanamori-zuka (seven mounds), which represent the Heike warriors also lost in the Battle of Dan-no-Ura. In 1871, the Kanpei-sha ( 官幣社 ) identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines most closely associated with the Imperial family. The kampeisha were shrines venerated by
88-713: The connection between the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea . It is used by many cargo ships as a shortcut to Osaka and Tokyo from Korea and China. The New Kitakyushu Airport is also nearby. The New Kitakyushu Airport opened in Kitakyushu on March 16, 2006, and is expected to bring further prosperity in the form of increased tourism and trade to the area. Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal: Kanmonkyo Bridge The Kanmon Bridge ( 関門橋 , Kanmonkyō ) ( Asian Highway Network [REDACTED] AH1 )
99-533: The imperial family. This category encompasses those sanctuaries enshrining emperors, imperial family members, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family. Up through 1940, the mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-chūsha ( 官幣中社 ) included the shrine; and it was then known as Akama -gū In 1940, Akama's status was changed Kanpei-taisha ( 官幣大社 ) , which is the highest rank; and since then, it has been known as Akama jingū. Kanmon Strait The Kanmon Straits ( 関門海峡 , Kanmon-kaikyō ) or
110-632: The sea. Ryūgū-jō is a mythical underwater palace, belonging to the dragon god of the sea . In the Tale of Heike , Nii-no-Ama told Antoku, before jumping, that they would go to an underwater palace, without referring to Ryūgū-jō. Then, Antoku's mother (Kenreimon-In, aka Taira no Tokuko ) had a dream, in which they were living in Ryūgū-jō. Inside, in the Hoichi Hall, is a statue of Hoichi the Earless , one of
121-519: Was used in the Tokyo area and at the Aichi Expo 2005 . The Kanmon Straits can be crossed in a number of ways, the oldest of which are the ferries. There is a car ferry between Nishiminato (Kokura) and Hikinoshima (Shimonoseki) which takes about ten minutes, and a passenger ferry from Moji-ko to Shimonoseki (Karato wharf). There is also a bridge which carries an expressway. By far the most used method
SECTION 10
#1732765245641#640359