holds a great significance to the Azumi people as the water which flowed down this mountain was once used to irrigate their crops. Using this water, the people of Japan perform the rituals known as “Omizu-tori” (taking water) and “Omizu-gaeshi” (returning water), whereby the water is deemed to rightfully return to the Myojin Pond. During this celebration, the Azumi People commemorate their direct connection to water and their gratitude for it as it has always assisted them – both in their history as skilful seafarers and crop farmers. Today, the Myojin Pond accommodates many visitors as the water that lays within is a reminder of the culture, tradition, and history of the Azumi people. Shikaumi Jinja Fukuoka prefecture is home to what is considered the ancestral shrine of the Azumi, Shikaumi Jinja. The shrine is presided over by a priest descended from the Azumi clan, and its biennial gojinkosai ceremony is designated an intangible cultural property by the prefecture. The shrine and its rituals make use of a deer motif, common to the historic Azumi people. References Tribes of ancient Japan