Kobe, the City with “God” in Its Name
Ikuta Shrine and the Sacred History Behind a Japanese Port City
There are several place names in Japan that include the character for “god.”
Kobe, a famous tourist destination, is one of them. Kobe is known as a port city open to the sea, and it has also long been appreciated for its landscape, set between mountains and water. But why does the character for “god” remain in the name of this city? As we trace the reason, an older memory of this land begins to emerge behind the image of Kobe today.
The Etymology of “Kobe”
Kobe is widely known as a port city, and also as a city where traces of foreign culture remain. The character for “god” in the name of this city was not something added later as decoration.
