Located on the third bailey of Ako Castle, this shrine was founded in 1912 to enshrine the 47 ronin of Ako led by Oishi Kuranosuke, who avenged their lord Asano Naganori in the famous Genroku incident. Life-sized statues of all 47 warriors line the precincts, and the Memorial Hall displays their personal effects and weapons. The December 14 Ako Gishi Festival commemorates the vendetta.

In 1701, Asano Naganori, lord of the Ako domain in Harima Province, drew his sword against Kira Yoshinaka in Edo Castle and was ordered to commit seppuku the same day. On December 14, 1702, forty-seven retainers led by chief counselor Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshio stormed the Kira residence and avenged th…