Shojoji Temple is a historic temple located in Fujimi, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture. It belongs to the Hongwanji-ha school of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, one of the major traditions of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan.
The temple’s mountain name is Gonen-zan. Shojoji is particularly famous for the local legend of the “Tanuki Bayashi,” a mysterious nighttime celebration said to have been performed by raccoon dogs, or tanuki. The legend inspired the beloved Japanese children’s song “Shojoji no Tanuki Bayashi”.
The Tanuki Bayashi legend is considered one of Japan’s three major tanuki legends. It tells of tanuki gathering in the temple grounds on autumn nights to sing, dance, and play music beneath the moon.
The story later inspired poet Ujo Noguchi to write the lyrics for “Shojoji no Tanuki Bayashi,” while composer Shinpei Nakayama created the melody. The song became widely known throughout Japan and remains familiar to generations of Japanese people.
Shojoji was founded around the middle of the 17th century, during the early Edo period.
The temple’s first chief priest, Ryonen, is said to have traveled from Kamakura with his younger brother, reaching Kisarazu by land. He established the first Jodo Shinshu temple in the area near the mouth of the Yana River.
At the time, Kisarazu was developing into one of the largest port towns on the Boso Peninsula under the protection of the Tokugawa shogunate. Many merchants gathered in the town, and a number of them became followers of Shojoji.
Graves belonging to these merchants can still be found behind the main hall. The inscriptions on the gravestones include information such as dates and places of origin, making them valuable historical sources for understanding the merchant community of Edo-period Kisarazu.
During the Edo period, Shojoji also served as a terakoya, a traditional temple school where children and adults could learn reading, writing, and other basic subjects.
A monument known as Fudezuka, erected in memory of the temple’s chief priest and his educational activities, remains on the grounds.
The temple also served as an important spiritual center for the local community. Among the religious ceremonies held there were extended Buddhist services accompanied by gagaku, traditional Japanese court music, performed continuously for five days and nights.
The legend of the Tanuki Bayashi has been passed down at Shojoji since the early days of the temple.
According to the story, on autumn nights, when bush clover and Japanese pampas grass covered the temple grounds, dozens of tanuki would gather under the moonlight. They would make music, sing, and dance together in a mysterious nighttime celebration.
The fantastic image of tanuki playing music beneath the autumn moon eventually became the inspiration for the famous children’s song.
In the past, the area around Shojoji was known as Suzumori, a dense bamboo-covered area rumored to be inhabited by mysterious supernatural creatures.
When a new chief priest arrived at the temple, the tanuki decided to disguise themselves and frighten him. However, the priest was not frightened by their tricks.
The tanuki then challenged him to a musical contest. The tanuki began their lively performance, while the priest responded by playing his shamisen, a traditional three-stringed Japanese instrument.
For several nights, the priest and the tanuki continued their singing and dancing. One night, however, the leader of the tanuki became so exhausted that he died after injuring himself. The priest felt sorry for the creature and is said to have held a memorial service for him.
This story became the basis of the Tanuki Bayashi legend associated with Shojoji.
Several monuments related to the legend can be found within the temple grounds, including the Tanuki-zuka, or Tanuki Mound, and a monument commemorating the children’s song.
These sites symbolize the close connection between Shojoji, the tanuki legend, and the song that made the temple famous throughout Japan.
Every year around mid-October, the temple hosts the Tanuki Festival.
Local elementary school students perform dances inspired by the tanuki legend, creating an event that combines local tradition with the next generation’s participation.
The festival is cherished by the local community and plays an important role in passing the temple’s history and folklore on to future generations.
“Shojoji no Tanuki Bayashi” was created by poet Ujo Noguchi and composer Shinpei Nakayama, based on the tanuki legend associated with Shojoji.
The song was published in the children’s magazine “Kinkoboshi” in 1925, after which it became widely known.
The song is characterized by its lively rhythm, playful repetition, and cheerful imagery. Its easy-to-remember sounds and child-friendly wording helped make it popular among Japanese children.
The repeated expressions describing the tanuki’s drumming and dancing create a distinctive rhythm that remains instantly recognizable to many Japanese people.
Today, the song continues to be enjoyed as one of the best-known children’s songs associated with Japanese folklore. It also serves as an enduring symbol of Shojoji Temple and the tanuki tradition of Kisarazu.
Address: 2-9-30 Fujimi, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
By Train: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from the West Exit of JR Kisarazu Station.
Shojoji is located beside the Yana River, with Shojoji Bridge nearby.
Shojoji Temple is more than a historic Buddhist temple. It is a place where religion, local history, education, folklore, music, and Japanese children’s culture come together.
A visit to the temple offers the opportunity to see the monuments associated with the Tanuki Bayashi legend and learn how an old local story inspired a children’s song that has been loved for generations.
If you visit Kisarazu, Shojoji is an especially interesting stop for discovering the folklore and cultural traditions behind one of Japan’s most recognizable tanuki songs.