Okama Shrine

Okama Shrine sits in the Honcho district of Shiogama City, Miyagi, and serves as an outer auxiliary shrine of Shiogama Shrine. The ancient sacred cauldrons enshrined here are said to be the very origin of the place name 'Shiogama,' meaning 'salt cauldron.' Four iron cauldrons stand in the precincts, and legend holds that their water never dries up even in severe drought and cannot be brought to a boil. A change in the color of this water is regarded as an omen of natural disaster. Each July, the Mosio-yaki Ritual is performed here to prepare sacred offerings for the main Shiogama Shrine festival — an ancient prayer to the deity of salt that continues to this day.