Kureha Shrine

Gofuku Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Muromachi, Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, preserving the “Kurehatori and Ayahatori legend” recorded in the Nihon Shoki. In the era of Emperor Ōjin, it is said that among the craftspeople who came from the Kingdom of Wu were two sisters, Kurehatori and Ayahatori, who settled here and introduced weaving and sewing techniques. As clothing spread across society regardless of season or social class, the characters “gofuku” became established in Japan as a word referring to silk fabrics. Later, by imperial decree, a shrine was built and the deity Gofuku Ōkami was enshrined here. The shrine was later repaired by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, who served as Chinju-fu Shōgun in the reign of Emperor En’yū. During the reign of Emperor Go-Daigo it came to be known as “Gofuku Daimyōjin,” and in the reign of Emperor Go-Yōzei the buildings were rebuilt by order of Toyotomi Hideyori. In more recent times, the worship hall was newly constructed in 1969. Because deities connected with clothing are enshrined here, it has long attracted devotion from people in the apparel industry. Each July during the summer festival, the shrine also performs the Nagoshi no Ōharae purification rite, praying for health and safety.