Oil Day

What Is Oil Day?

August 23rd is "Oil Day" in Japan, jointly established by Rikyu Hachimangu Shrine in Oyamazaki, Kyoto Prefecture, and Kaneda Co., Ltd., a company headquartered in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, that runs a variety of oil and fat businesses. It is registered with the Japan Anniversary Association. The day was created in the hope of giving people a chance to think about oil.

A Storied Date, Rooted in a Shrine Relocation From 859

The date behind this anniversary is tied to a historical event more than a thousand years old.

• The date's origin: tied to the year 859, when, by imperial decree of Emperor Seiwa, a divided spirit of Usa Hachimangu Shrine in Kyushu was relocated to Oyamazaki, Kyoto
• Rikyu Hachimangu's connection to oil: the shrine is said to have invented the "nagaki," a lever-based tool for pressing oil from perilla seeds, and Oyamazaki is regarded as the birthplace of oil production in Japan. Today the shrine is known as the home of the "god of oil"
• Festival on the day: on this day, the shrine holds a ceremony giving thanks for oil used for lamps, industry, and cooking
• Its purpose: to help people rediscover the role and importance of oil, both as a cooking ingredient and an essential part of daily life

Why Oyamazaki Is Known as "Oil Town"

Rikyu Hachimangu was granted the title "Yuso" (ancestor of oil) by the imperial court, and in the medieval period the Oyamazaki oil guild ("aburaza") flourished with a monopoly on oil. It is said that oil merchants across the country could not deal in oil without the shrine's license. The shrine's name comes from the detached palace ("rikyu") of Emperor Saga that once stood in Oyamazaki.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn about the types and characteristics of the cooking oils you use every day
• Enjoy a fried or stir-fried dish that makes good use of oil
• Learn about shrines connected to oil, such as Rikyu Hachimangu
• Check the proper way to dispose of used cooking oil

A Connection Between Oil and Daily Life, Carried On for Over a Thousand Years

As both a source of light and a flavor of everyday cooking, oil has long supported people's lives. Let August 23rd be a chance to reflect on the history and role of the oil you use without a second thought.