A major shrine in Ibaraki prefecture, traditionally twinned with the Katori jingu and one of the earliest jinguji (shrine-temple complexes). It is dedicated to the warrior-kami Take-mika-zuchi who according to the Kojiki toured Japan putting to flight evil kami and pacifying the country, thereby enabling the heavenly kami to take possession of the land. The shrine building was reconstructed (shikinen sengu) every 20 years until the fifteenth century. Behind the shrine building is the kaname-ishi stone which 'seals down' the earthquake kami nai-no-kami.
A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Brian Bocking.