Our visit to Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine was hurriedly fixed for July 1 and we visited the shrine on short notice.

Kumano’s sacred sites are protected by three mountains: Hongu-taisha, Nachi-taisha, and Hayatama-taisha. Of this year’s dedication paintings, Hayatama-taisha was the only one that we had no way to get through to the chief priest. Finally, with the help of local volunteers Mr. Iwasawa and Mr. Maeoka, we were finally able to schedule a meeting with the chief priest Ueno.

The priest seemed to have carefully studied the materials we had already sent him for the works for Hongu-taisha and Nachi-taisha shrines. Today, for the first time, we presented the “Divine Fire at Gotobiki Rock,” an esquisite for dedication to Hayatama-taisha Shrine.

The priest leaned over a bit and said to us, “This one is obviously different from the other two. Do you know what it is?” We could not answer immediately and were puzzled. When we could not answer immediately, he pointed to a picture of a fire festival on the wall and explained.

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” The other pictures depict humans, Emperor Jinmu’s eyes, etc., but there are no humans at all on the Gotobikiwa. This sacred mountain, where the deity descended at the dawn of time before humans were born, radiates a power that keeps humans at bay. Even during the fire festival, when people carry torches and climb up the mountain, they may be in the mundane world of humans, but once they receive the fire of the god, everyone descends in awe of the moment, transforming into the god. I had hoped that you would not depict human beings in the dedication. When I saw the sample of this work, I felt that it was a very good suggestion.”

Shiozawa responded to the priest’s words by saying that he himself had climbed the mountain of Kamikura and felt the pure Jomon energy of the yawning rocks and felt no need for anything else. The two then shared a common topic of conversation about the Maha Bodhi temple.

Professor Kanayama and scientist Dr. Furuta, who arrived late, joined the meeting, and pleasantries ensued.

That evening, we reported to the local members of the Kumano Gakkai at a Chinese restaurant that Mr. Hayatama Taisha had graciously agreed to the project, and they were delighted.

Now, finally, we can present the dedication paintings to the World Heritage Kumano Sanzan together for November.

When we opened the window of the hotel room where we stayed that night, we saw a Gotobiki  Rock watching over us.