Ta-no-Kami

In the Chugoku and Shikoku areas, it is Sanbai Sama, in Setonaikai, it is the local kami.

According to their agricultural calendars, farmers observe kami ceremonies related to Ta-no-Kami in the spring and autumn.

These include the ceremony of the beginning of a year, beginning of farming in early spring, the start of rice plant farming, rice plant transplantation (accepting kami at the start of transplantation, called Saori) (sending kami at the end is called Sanaburi) and harvest time.

Scarecrows are variations of Ta-no-Kami, since they are expected to prevent bad spirits of animals and birds.

After the meiji era, this custom spread in accordance with the movements of its inhabitants.

Saotome (早乙女), or rice planting women, played a religious role in ancient times, rice growing was considered a religious act, and there were many taboos that had to be observed.