The M-1 Grand Prix finals will finally be held on December 22, 2024!
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the most famous manzai contest in Japan.
The ‘Emi-kuji’ (smile lottery) that determines the order of the finalists’ performances has become an important item that attracts a lot of attention every year.
Did you know that there’s a deep connection between this ‘Emi-kuji’ and Kurumazaki Shrine in Kyoto?
This time, we’ll introduce the history and features of Kurumazaki Shrine, and its relationship with the M-1 Grand Prix.
What is Kurumazaki Shrine?
Kurumazaki Shrine is located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, and enshrines Kiyohara no Yorinari, a Confucian scholar from the late Heian period, as its main deity.
It’s believed to bring various benefits such as business prosperity, family safety, financial luck, and matchmaking, and is worshipped as the ‘deity who never breaks promises.’
Kurumazaki Shrine Known as the ‘God of Entertainment’
Within the shrine grounds, there’s a subsidiary shrine called ‘Entertainment Shrine’ that enshrines Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, the deity of entertainment.
Around it, there are about 4,000 vermilion-painted fence boards donated by people in the entertainment industry, with the names of many famous entertainers and artists inscribed.
It’s fun to look at the fence boards, but even if you’re not in the entertainment industry, you can donate a fence board with your personal name.
It might be nice to pray to the deity for your dreams and goals alongside your favorite famous entertainers.
The Connection between Emi-kuji and Kurumazaki Shrine
The ‘Emi-kuji’ used in the M-1 Grand Prix is a lottery that determines the order of the finalists’ performances.
Every year, before the M-1 Grand Prix is held, this ‘Emi-kuji’ receives a purification ceremony at Kurumazaki Shrine.
It has now become an important ritual to maintain fairness and sacredness, and recently, the role of drawing the ‘Emi-kuji’ is assigned to a celebrity who has been active that year.
Who will be in charge this year?!
And it’s exciting to see what kind of drama will unfold based on the performance order determined by the ‘Emi-kuji’ this year!
Kurumazaki Shrine, Home to the Power of the ‘Deity who Never Breaks Promises’
◎ Amulets for Specific Wishes
Kurumazaki Shrine offers special amulets for praying for success and happiness.
One of the representative amulets is the ‘Prayer Stone’ (Kinen Shinseki).
This is an amulet containing a stone purified by the chief priest, believed to be effective for various wishes such as attracting wealth, business prosperity, and love fulfillment, and is known as a ‘power stone that grants wishes.’
In addition, you can receive amulets tailored to your specific wishes, such as the recently popular ‘Oshi-katsu Amulet’ and the ‘Beauty and Talent’ amulet inspired by Sei Shonagon.
◎ Correct Worship Method
- Purify at the hand-washing basin
- Cleanse your hands and mouth
- Worship at the purification shrine
- Purify bad luck and karma, reset your mind and body
- Worship method is ‘two bows, two claps, one bow’
- Receive a Prayer Stone at the shrine office
- Receive the ‘Prayer Stone Amulet’
- Worship at the main shrine
- Hold the Prayer Stone with both hands and strongly wish in your heart
- Worship method is ‘two bows, two claps, one bow’
- Worship at the Entertainment Shrine (optional)
- Open for worship to entertainment and art-related people as well as the general public
- When your wish is granted
- Place a stone with words of gratitude in front of the main shrine
- Return the Prayer Stone Amulet to the old amulet return box next to the main shrine
Don’t forget to worship at the purification shrine before praying.
Purify bad luck and karma, and reset your mind and body before praying!
If your wish is granted, make a gratitude visit with a thankful heart.
A Power Spot where Wishes Come True
Kurumazaki Shrine is an attractive worship spot not only for M-1 Grand Prix fans but also for those interested in entertainment and arts.
When visiting Kyoto, why not visit this shrine to pray for success and good fortune?
Address: 23 Saga Asahi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
Access: About 1 minute walk from ‘Kurumazaki Shrine’ station on the Keifuku Electric Railroad, or about 1 minute walk from ‘Kurumazaki Shrine-mae’ bus stop on city bus or Kyoto bus
Opening hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission fee: Free
Official website:https://www.kurumazakijinja.or.jp
