Supporters of the Japanese national football team gathered at Okuda Shrine in Toyama City to pray for victory in the 2026 World Cup [1].
The gathering blends traditional spirituality with modern sports fandom, highlighting the cultural role of shrines as centers for national unity during global competitions. By seeking divine intervention, fans express a collective hope for the team's success on the world stage.
Visitors to the shrine focused their prayers on the golden Yatagarasu statue [1]. The Yatagarasu, a legendary three-legged crow, is believed to provide divine guidance and is revered for having protected local residents during wartime [1]. As part of the ritual, supporters wrote messages of encouragement and victory on a football uniform placed within the worship hall [1].
This practice is not a new phenomenon for the local community. Supporters have been visiting Okuda Shrine to pray for the national team since the 2014 Brazil World Cup [1]. The offering of the uniform to the statue serves as a symbolic bridge between the physical efforts of the athletes and the spiritual support of the fans.
One unnamed Japanese supporter expressed confidence in the team's potential despite the difficulty of the opening match. "I think the first game will be difficult, but I want them to do their best and win," the supporter said. "I want them to aim to be the best in the world" [1].
The event in Toyama is part of a wider trend of sports-related pilgrimage across Japan. While other ceremonies have occurred at different locations, such as the Hattori Tenjin-gu in Osaka, the tradition at Okuda Shrine remains a focal point for supporters in Toyama Prefecture [1].
“I want them to aim to be the best in the world”
The continued tradition of visiting Okuda Shrine since 2014 demonstrates how the World Cup serves as a catalyst for reinforcing local cultural identities and spiritual practices in Japan. The use of the Yatagarasu symbol, traditionally a guide, reflects a desire for strategic and moral direction for the national team, illustrating the intersection of folklore and national pride in contemporary Japanese society.
