Monument of the Legend of Izumi Kotaro in the Omachi Dam lakeside park. (See larger image at this link.) http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Izumi_Kotaro_statue_in_Lake_Ryujin.jpg
Dragons are big news in Japan and have been so for a very long time. The most ancient of them all is Watasumi Sanjin, also known as Ryujin, who ruled the upper, middle and lower sea. Named the “Great Watatsumi (sea) god” in the Kojiki, the oldest chronicle of Japanese myths and compared to the mountain god, Ohoyamatsumi. The deity, Izanagi–who escaped from Yomi, the underworld created Watasumi along with the Sun and the Moon and nine other gods in Japanese mythology.
Watasumi has Shinto Shrines throughout Japan dedicated to him. Ōwatatsumi jinja or Daikai Jinja, in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, the Watatsumi Jinja in Tarumi-ku, Kobe, and the Watatsumi Jinja in Kokura Minami-ku, Kitakyūshū.
Tarumi-ku, Kobe
Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
Watasumi Sanjin is just one more reason to read Legend of the Cherry Jewel, the urban fantasy action/adventure, set in Japan, when is comes out next year.
(Coming soon to Amazon.com, but you can read the first chapter of Legend of the Cherry Jewel here at: http://lediarunnels27221912.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/legend-of-the-cherry-jewel-chapter-one-lost-and-found/
RELATED LINKS
Dragons of the Orient “Hengeyokai” Shape-shifters http://lediarunnels27221912.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/dragons-of-the-orient-hengeyokai-shape-shifters/
Watasumi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watatsumi
Sumiyoshi sanjin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumiyoshi_sanjin
Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumiyoshi-ku,_Osaka
Tarumi-ku, Kobe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarumi-ku,_KobeTarumi-ku, Kobe
Related articles
- Legend of the Cherry Jewel: Chapter One “Lost and Found” (lediarunnels27221912.wordpress.com)
- 24 Hours in Osaka (hotelclub.com)
Ledia Runnels' "Mysterious Orient" 
