Ōmiwa Shrine

Ōmiwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine situated in the city of Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, Japan.^[1] During the Sengoku period, it was located in the southern Nara Heartland in Yamato Province.

History[edit | edit source]

In 1582, the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke came to the shrine after receiving word from a shrine-maiden, Fuyu, in need of help. Upon arrival, they discussed with Fuyu about how it seemed the spirits at the shrines were mad and terrorizing the locals, but she had her doubts. As Naoe and Yasuke went to pay their respects at the smaller shrines, they were met at the final shrine by Kojiro, who advised them to find Tsutsui Junkei for further information. Before leaving, the pair noticed Kojiro had disappeared without a trace.^[2]

During their investigation, Naoe and Yasuke found evidence of a group of criminals called the Kurai Eikyou who were terrorizing the locals under the orders of Hara Joken, a member of the Shinbakufu. After assassinating every member, they returned to Fuyu at the shrine to inform her of the group's downfall. When Fuyu thanked them, she also told them to go where they had met Kojiro the first time. There, they saw and acquired the ōdachi Whisper of Muramasa as a parting gift.^[3]