Handprints of demons carved on rocks at Mitsuishi Shrine

Mitsuishi Shrine is the oldest shrine in Morioka City. As the name suggests, the shrine is characterized by three huge rocks on its grounds. These rocks are said to have fallen when Mt. Iwate erupted, and have long been revered as "Mitsuishi-sama. Mitsuishi-sama bound the demons that once inhabited the area to the three rocks to appease them, and made them put their handprints on the rocks as a promise that they would never misbehave again and would never return to the area. This is believed to be the origin of the name "Iwate. Also, the old name of Morioka, "Kozukata," means "the devil will never come back. The ogre's handprint is no longer visible, but it sometimes appears after a rain! Why don't you come and look for it?