Ikiko Shrine

Enshrined in the western hills of Momiyamamachi, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, this shrine holds the former rank of village shrine. While it has long been venerated as a deity presiding over the blessing of life, it is most celebrated for the Naki Zumo — a weeping sumo ritual held each September. Infants are placed in a ring, and the one who cries first is declared the winner. Parents from across the region bring their young children, praying for their healthy growth. The tradition holds that the louder the cry, the stronger the child will become. For countless generations, this shrine has quietly received those heartfelt prayers.