Namba Yasaka Shrine, Osaka

The Namba Yasaka Shrine is an old Shinto shrine located near the Osaka stadium. Its distinctive feature is the face of a lion that seems to hold the shrine between its jaws.

The Namba Yasaka Shrine is said to have been commissioned by the Emperor Hanzei in honor of his father, Emperor Nintoku. The present day Kawachi Matsubara City was the original site of the shrine. After Hideyoshi Toyotomi began the construction of the Osaka castle, it was moved to its present location. At the time it was called the Kami Namba shrine and stood near a Buddhist temple. It was given its present name after the Meiji restoration and became a purely Shinto shrine.

The structure in the shape of a lion’s head is called the Ojishi den or the Hall of the Great Lion. It is 12 meters high and the face of the lion was meant to drive away demons. The Inari Shrine Bunraku-za puppet theater created by noted puppeteer, Bunraku-ken Uemura in 1811 was located here for many years. The shrine hosts an important festival or Matsuri annually. A popular annual tug of war event is held during the festival or Matsuri on the third Sunday of January.