Chokusai-sha

   Imperial-festival shrines. The name given to fifteen prestigious shrines which are entitled to receive visits from imperial messengers (choku-shi) at festivals which are therefore classified as choku-sai. The shrines are Ise Jingu, Kamo-wake-ikazuchi-jinja, Kamo-mi-oya-jinja, Iwashimizu-hachiman-gu, Kasuga-taisha, Hikawa-jinja, Atsuta-jinja, Izumo taisha, Kashiwara-jinja, Meiji-jingu, Katori-jingu, Omi-jingu, Kashima-jingu, Yasukuni-jinja, Usa Hachiman-gu and Kashii-gu. In the post-war period these visits are actually carried out by the president (tori) of the Jinja Honcho in place of the imperial messenger. See kenpeishi.