Koshiō Shrine

Koshio Shrine sits facing north, an orientation thought to reflect the northward expansion of the ancient imperial court. It enshrines two Shinto deities associated with military campaigns to extend imperial control across the Japanese archipelago, and may share a historical connection with Akita Fort, an imperial outpost established in 733. The community surrounding the shrine once kept unusual food taboos: for centuries, residents vowed never to eat meat, eggs, or milk, a devotional practice whose origins are unclear. During the first seven days of the New Year, they also abstained from alcohol and from food prepared outside the village.