Custom of respect for the mountain / Worshipping the god of the mountain

People working in the mountain worshipped the god of the mountain, praying for safety during the work. It was believed that the mountain was governed by a goddess; a variety of fish called okoze, marked with its strange face, was offered to her, believing that even she would be amused. In addition, in some houses people worshipped another mountain god called Yamasaki (literally meaning “edge of the mountain”).
Loggers working in the mountain thought that trees were gifts from the god of the mountain. Therefore, they expressed their gratitude for the god by putting cut branches and gohei (Shinto-style strips of paper) on the tree stump after logging and made a prayer, hoping that trees would grow again.

Gohei held by Yamasaki

Gift of okoze