Omoto-sha
This small shrine is dedicated to the legendary first head priest of Sumiyoshi Taisha, Tamomi no Sukune, and his wife, Ichihime no Mikoto. It is located in the building where food offerings are prepared before being presented to the gods enshrined in the four main shrines. Omoto means “attendant”—the first of the two kanji characters was later applied to warriors and read samurai—and likely refers to Tamomi no Sukune’s role as a servant of the gods.
The shrine is popular with people seeking romantic partners and happy marriages. It offers small wooden plaques (ema) for writing prayers and wishes for love, as well as clay dolls that serve as romantic charms. Among the dolls are a naked husband and wife called a hadaka bina. The pair represents an ideal marital relationship in which the couple has no secrets.