Yatsushiro Shrine faces major damage following Kumamoto earthquake

One month after a major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Yatsushiro Shrine in Yatsushiro City has sustained significant damage. The shrine, which was founded 840 years ago, suffered the collapse of its gate, prayer hall, and other structures due to ground fissures caused by the Hinaku Fault Zone passing beneath the grounds.

The damage threatens the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event held every November. Officials are considering whether the 2026 festival can proceed or if it must be scaled back, with a decision expected next week.

Chief Priest Takehiko Kobayashi, who is leading recovery efforts, expressed a commitment to restoring the shrine despite the loss of a former colleague in a nearby factory collapse. To fund repairs, the shrine has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the reconstruction of its historic buildings.