🐺 The Hidden Power of 氣: A Journey to Mitsumine Shrine and the Sacred Mountains of Chichibu

How Japan’s forgotten spirit, ancient wolves, and anime legends converge in a single pilgrimage

🌿 The Forgotten Meaning of “氣”

One afternoon, I stumbled upon something that felt oddly sacred—something as simple as a forgotten character: 「氣」.

In modern Japanese, we use 「気」to express energy, emotion, atmosphere. But this simplified version is missing a crucial component: 「米」—“rice”—a symbol of life nurtured by the sun and moon, representing divine energy in traditional cosmology.

Realizing this, I felt a strange ache. How often do we erase the sacred from everyday life, without even noticing?

That question pulled me into a deeper exploration of 氣—not just the word, but the life-force it represents.

🍃 What Is “Ki” Really?

In his book The Power of Ki, Japanese master Shinichi Tohei writes:

“We are part of nature, and we are connected by Ki.

While the mind belongs to a person, Ki belongs to no one—it flows through all things.

When you feel anxious, don’t try to force connection with people.

Instead, remember: you are already connected to nature.”

This idea resonated deeply.

It felt like a quiet invitation—not to seek something outside myself, but to return to what was already inside.

🐺 Mitsumine Shrine: Where the Wolf Still Guards the Mountain

Guided by this feeling, I journeyed to Mitsumine Shrine, hidden in the sacred mountains of Chichibu, about 3 hours northwest of Tokyo.

Founded nearly 1900 years ago by Yamato Takeru, a legendary prince and warrior, Mitsumine enshrines the primordial gods Izanagi and Izanami, creators of the land itself.

But what sets this shrine apart is something rare:

Wolves are revered as divine messengers.

Yes—wolves. Not lions, not foxes.

Stone Koma-ōkami (guardian wolves) stand where lions usually would, guarding the entrance with fierce yet calm expressions.

This ancient wolf worship is deeply tied to Japan’s mountain spirituality—where wolves were once seen as protectors of travelers, homes, and harvests.

It reminds me of Princess Mononoke, the iconic Ghibli film:

As humans forget their reverence for nature, the gods weaken, animals shrink, and sacred intelligence fades.

That’s not just fantasy. It’s prophecy.

⛰️ The Spirit of the Land — A Living Message

As I approached the towering cedar trees and stepped into the cold, crisp air of Mitsumine Shrine, I came across a simple sign:

“Breathe deeply three times.

Put your hands together and pray.

You will feel the Ki improve.”

And I did.

It was as if the land itself welcomed me.

🚂 “Demon Slayer” and the Sacred Anime Pilgrimage

Just when I thought this journey couldn’t get more mythic, I realized that Chichibu is also filled with locations that inspired the hit anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

For fans of the series, these aren’t just locations—they’re portals into a deeper world.