Clay Dish Throwing at Shishi no Reigan
Shishi no Reigan (“lion’s spirit ridge”) is one of the most-visited lookout points on Yashima. However, it is not only the views over Takamatsu and the Seto Inland Sea that draw crowds to the lookout.
Here, visitors can take part in a tradition called kawarake nage (clay dish throwing). A metal hoop is suspended by a wire below the lookout, just above the tree line. Visitors attempt to toss a small, eco-friendly earthenware dish from the ridge down into the sea. The throw is said to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits if the disc goes through the hoop or if it simply flies very far.
The tradition is inspired by the Minamoto clan’s victory in the Battle of Yashima (1185), when the warriors are said to have thrown their round helmets in the air to celebrate. The metal ring is a more recent addition to provide a target for aiming practice. Stalls near Shishi no Reigan sell packs of the locally made dishes for visitors to test their throwing skills.