Karube Shrine

Life Style Japan # 8

- 軽部神社 (Karube Shrine)
* The Breast Shrine （おっぱい神社）
The Karube Shrine in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture is dedicated to the Chichigamisama (Goddess of Breasts), a deity believed to help with everything from safe births to the production of breast milk to breast cancer cures. It was built in 1678, and was once famous for a cherry tree known as the “tarachine cherry tree.” Tarachine means mother, but has the chinese character for “breast” in it, and it seems that the shrine became associated with breasts because of its weeping cherry tree.
Today, you can find many wishes from women suffering from breast cancer, or who are asking the goddess to help them with breastfeeding. And, of course, a few just want a bigger bust.