Perhaps the Most Colorful Approach in Japan [Memu Shrine] Speculating on the History Hidden in the Place Name Memu, Hokkaido, 2025 Hokkaido 2047km Loop

The history hidden in the place name Memu

I've traveled around Japan many times and
I've seen many shrines, but
I think this is probably the most colorful one in Japan.

The connection between "Memu" and "Memu" 💧

The reading of the place name "Memu" in this region perfectly matches the Ainu word Memu.

Its meaning is,a gushing spring

is.

From this match, it is highly likely that the place name "Memu" was literally named as a "place where springs gush out."

Supporting the speculation by looking at the relationship between topography and water

Combining the fact that the place name means "spring" (Memu) with the current topography, we can infer the following historical background.

1. Existence of a spring (Memu):

   • Currently, the area where the Nukabira River meanders and approaches is at the boundary between the river and the mountains, a topography where groundwater easily gushes to the surface geologically.

   • It is thought that in the past, abundant and clear **spring water (Memu)** flowed out in large quantities near this meandering riverbank or from the low land near the shrine.

2. Water usage and settlements:

   • Springs are the most important source of water for daily life. This spring became the decisive factor for the Ainu people and later settlers to build a settlement in this land.

3. Development of farmland:

   • Thanks to the gushing spring, it can be inferred that stable water was obtained even on thenarrow farmlandalong the Nukabira River, allowing agriculture to be sustained.

The connection between the Nukabira River and "Nukabira"

As mentioned above, this area of 'Memu' is part of the Nukabira River basin, which means 'cliff with a figure' in the Ainu language. The proximity of the different Ainu place names
Memu and Noka-pira
suggests that this entire area was an important living sphere for the Ainu people, blessed with water and resources.

It is very interesting to be able to read the environment, history, and traces of the people who lived there from a single place name.

Combining these facts, it is highly likely that Memu Shrine was established to protect and give thanks for 'water,' the most important and fundamental element for the people living in this land.

Speculation on the Reason for the Existence of Memu Shrine

1. Faith in and Gratitude for Water Sources (The Most Likely Reason)

Since 'Memu,' which means 'spring' in the Ainu language, has become the place name, it is clear that life in this region relied heavily on spring water.

• Faith in the Water God: The shrine is thought to have been established as a place to pray that the clean water (spring) that nurtures life would not dry up, and to offer gratitude. Water was essential for both agriculture (cultivated land) and daily life, and became an object of deification.

• Continuity with Ainu Culture: In Ainu culture as well, water was revered as a god (Kamuy). When the Japanese settlers arrived later to build the shrine, they may have taken over the 'place where springs well up' (Memu), which the indigenous Ainu people cherished, as a sacred site and enshrined a guardian deity there.

2. Guardian of the Land and Milestones of Development

Since shrines often become a spiritual anchor when starting life in a new land, the following reasons are also conceivable.

• Prayers for Successful Development: People who cleared the narrow cultivated land along the Nukabira River and engaged in agriculture enshrined the shrine as a local guardian deity, wishing for a good harvest and the peace of the settlement.

• Wishes for Flood Control: The meandering Nukabira River can sometimes flood and threaten cultivated land and settlements. It is possible that it functioned as a place of prayer to prevent water disasters while simultaneously giving thanks for the blessings of water.

In conclusion, it is speculated that the most fundamental reason for the existence of Memu Shrine was to enshrine the 'spring (Memu)' that gave the place its name, and the water of the 'Nukabira River,' which is the source of livelihood, in other words, the 'Water God,' and to pray for the peace and good harvest of the settlement.

Furthermore, there is a stone monument of Bato Kannon beside Memu Shrine.

The existence of this Bato Kannon suggests that it is deeply related to the livelihood and transportation of this region.

Deciphering the Origins of Memu Shrine from the Bato Kannon

1. Gratitude and Memorial Services for Horses in Agriculture 🐎

During the development period of Hokkaido, horses were not just livestock, but the most important labor force.

• Cultivation and Transport: Because the Memu region consists of a series of 'narrow cultivated lands' along the Nukabira River, the power of horses was essential for farm work on limited land. Horses were used not only for cultivation but also as a means of transportation and logistics to carry harvests and daily necessities.

• Role of Bato Kannon: In Buddhism, Bato Kannon is worshipped as the guardian deity of livestock and horses. They were enshrined along roads, at the entrances of settlements, and, as in this case, within the precincts of shrines, specifically to hold memorial services for horses that lost their lives due to illness or accidents and to pray for the safety of the remaining horses.

This indicates that the people of Memu were deeply grateful for the blessings of the horses that supported the agriculture nurtured by the water (springs), and held them as objects of faith.

From the above, it is thought that two different faiths coexisted at Memu Shrine: the 'God of Water' and the 'Guardian Deity of Horses'.

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