This is why I love the gaming community
On Tsushima island, Watatsumi shrine is considered the most iconic of the four major shrines on the island. It is famous for the three torii gates extending into the bay - supposedly marking the entrance to the palace of Ōwatatsumi no kami, the dragon god of the sea.
Some backstory; it served as the main shrine for the old port, and was the first shrine that merchants, sailors and diplomats would visit when they made landfall on the island.
Something else to note; Tsushima island was trade and diplomatic powerhouse. If people travelled to Japan from the Korean peninsula or mainland China, their first stop before reaching mainland Japan would have been Tsushima. The island was ruled by the Sō clan from the 11th century up until 1871. They were very powerful in their own right and continued to rule the island for some time even after the han system was abolished by emperor Meiji.
Watatsumi shrine is the only irl shrine on the island that is featured in the Ghost of Tsushima game, which is a great source of pride for the locals.
During the 2020 typhoon season, one of the three torii gates was knocked down into the water. Naturally, the local government raised some money to help with the repairs, but it wasn't going to be enough.
Until the gaming community stepped in
Fans of the Ghost of Tsushima game got wind of what happened and started a crowdfund. They ended up raising over $260 000, five times the initial goal.
Because of the fans, the repairs were completed last week.
I was able to visit Tsushima last week and I was one of the first people to see the newly restored torii gate. I managed to snap the above picture just before a massive storm swept in. If you look carefully, you can see the third torii gate within the second one.
This would not have been possible if it weren't for the enthusiasm of the fans and international community.
So thank you to every single person who donated to the repair efforts. Because of you, an important piece of the island's culture was preserved and put Tsushima back on the map.
When the pandemic is over, put Tsushima on your bucket list. It's a gorgeous island to visit with an insane amount of history and culture to boot.
dededos
jacobvanloon
baratheonpilled
andulkaphoto
izzy806
areudirty
annaxmalina
