Sanja Gongen (three founders)

Sanja Gongen refers to the three deified founders enshrined at Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo—Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari, and Haji no Matsuchi—who according to tradition were connected to the discovery of the Kannon statue that led to the founding of nearby Sensoji Temple. Worship of the Sanja Gongen reflects the historical fusion of Shinto and Buddhist practice in Japan, and the shrine remains a center of local devotion and the site of the annual Sanja Matsuri festival. Many visitors associate the shrine with prosperity and success in business, though such benefits are traditional beliefs rather than verified outcomes.