Mikeiri no Mikoto

Mikeiri no Mikoto (Japanese: 三毛入野命, also known as Mikenu, d. 663 BC according to traditional dating) is a Japanese deity. He was the older brother of Jimmu. While playing a minor role in the Nihon Shoki, he has a prominent local tradition at Takachiho Shrine of which he is the main deity. There is an annual festival for him called Shishikake Festival.

Nihon Shoki
According to the Nihon Shoki, Mikeiri no Mikoto, Ugayafukiaezu's third son and the older brother of Japan's first Emperor Jimmu, assisted his brother the Emperor in government affairs. All his three brothers, including Mikeiri, supported his decision to embark on the military campaign to eastern Japan. Later during the military campaign, Mikeiri disappeared at sea alongside Inahi and as a result, Jimmu was left the sole leader and became Emperor.

Takachiho myth
However, Takachiho legend offers a different account, suggesting he returned to Takachiho to govern it. The legend further narrates that a formidable kami deity named Kihachi, residing in a cave on Mt. Futagami, often terrorized the residents of Araragi Village. The climax of his reign of terror came when he kidnapped Princess Unome, intending to forcibly marry her. Mikeiri no Mikoto, upon his return to Takachiho, saw a haunting reflection of Princess Unome in a pond by the Gokase River. This vision revealed Kihachi's sinister intentions. In response, Mikeiri rallied a group of forty-four vassals to storm Kihachi's cave and rescue the princess.

Despite the initial victory, Kihachi was not easily subdued. After his defeat, he resurrected the very next day, burning with rage. In their subsequent encounter, Mikeiri took drastic measures by severing Kihachi into three distinct sections: head, torso, and limbs. Each segment was buried separately to ensure Kihachi's permanent incapacitation. Following this victory, Mikeiri and Princess Unome married, eventually having eight children. The legend asserts that their descendants later ruled over the region of Takachiho.

Modern worship
Today, physical reminders of this legend are scattered throughout Takachiho. Among them are the Nanatsuga Pond, where legend says Mikeiri first encountered Princess Unome's reflection, and the Chikara Ishi, a massive boulder believed to have been thrown by Kihachi during their initial battle. Distinct markers indicate the burial spots of Kihachi's divided body: his head is near the Solest Takachiho Hotel, the torso is proximate to Ryokan Shinsen, and his limbs are found near the ruins of Awaji Castle, adjacent to Takachiho High School.

In modern Takachiho, local folklore says that that Kihachi's vengeful spirit occasionally stirs, casting early frosts that harm the crops. To counteract this, the Takachiho Shrine hosts an annual event known as the Shishikake Festival. The ceremony involves offering a boar and the chanting of special prayers by Shinto priests to appease Kihachi's spirit. Additionally, Kagura, a traditional Shinto dance, is showcased during the festival, typically taking place on the third day of the twelfth lunar month, often coinciding with January.