Shizu Shrine in Shizu, Naka, is an ancient Hitachi shrine listed in the Engishiki, enshrining Takehazuchi-no-Mikoto as principal deity. Takehazuchi is known as a martial deity who slew the star deity Amatsumikaboshi at Amaterasu's command, with a rare deity configuration among shrines nationwide. Also called the second shrine of Hitachi, it is an important shrine alongside Kashima Jingu and Hitach…

The exact founding date of Shizu Shrine is unknown, but it is recorded as a shikinaisha (shrine listed in the Engishiki) in the Jinmyocho compiled in 927 CE, indicating the shrine existed at least before the 10th century. The principal deity, Takehazuchi-no-Mikoto, a martial god said to have slain t…