RIKYU HACHIMANGU
離宮八幡宮
Rikyu Hachimangu 離宮八幡宮
Rikyu Hachimangu was built on the grounds of the former imperial villa of Emperor Seiwa in the year 859. It is here that Hachiman, the god of victory is enshrined.
This shrine is known as the home of oil production in Japan as the Shinto priests here in the Heian period invented an oil press which made it possible to produce perilla oil.
In the late 1100’s, the priests of the Rikyu Hachimangu invented an apparatus called "Chogi" to make oil by pressing the perilla plant. Perilla is a type of mint.
At first, egoma oil was used for lighting the Imperial Court, shrines and temples of Kyoto. As it’s popularity grew it was eventually used by the general public.