[First in Japan] Praying for Head Safety with a Special Bicycle Helmet-Shaped Goshuin
OGK Kabuto and Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine collaborate to offer a unique bicycle helmet-shaped Goshuin starting May 1, 2026. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of head protection for cyclists, coinciding with "Bicycle Helmet Day."
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 23:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 15:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 15:03 (1 min after Collected)
OGK Kabuto Co., Ltd. [Representative Director and President: Hironori Kimura, hereinafter "OGK Kabuto"] has collaborated with Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine [Ōdai Town, Watarai District, Mie Prefecture], the only shrine in Japan named "Atama no Miya" (Shrine of the Head), to produce a bicycle helmet-shaped Goshuin. This special Goshuin will be available starting May 1, 2026, at Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine.
■ "Guardian Deity of the Head" x "Bicycle Helmet Manufacturer": A Shared Desire for Safety
More than half of fatalities in bicycle accidents involve fatal head injuries. Among those who suffered fatal or serious head injuries, the proportion of non-helmet wearers was about 1.7 times higher than that of helmet wearers. Protecting the head directly leads to protecting life. OGK Kabuto, in addition to planning, developing, and selling products, actively engages in helmet use awareness campaigns for bicycle riding in collaboration with local governments, police, and educational institutions.
On the other hand, Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine, founded in the late Heian period and affectionately known as "Okashira-san" since ancient times, is Japan's only "guardian deity of the head." Since 2022, it has started "helmet purification" as part of its traffic safety prayers.
This project was realized because the shared belief of both parties, "to protect important heads and wish for safety," resonated with each other.
Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine also conducts helmet purification.
As a new form of safety awareness that fuses traditional "prayer" with modern "manufacturing," the production of the "bicycle helmet-shaped Goshuin," the first of its kind in Japan, came to fruition.
■ Thoughts Behind This Goshuin and Its Design
The motif of this Goshuin adopts the shape of the "AERO-R2," a track racing helmet that inherits the aero performance of helmets used by the Japanese National Team/athletes in international bicycle races.
Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine was responsible for the design. The pattern embodies the "self-control" (Kokki-shin) of cyclists who accumulate daily efforts, and the desire to aim for the top and continuously update their personal goals step by step.
Kabuto AERO-R2 (27,500 yen)
The character "頭" (atama/kashira, meaning "head" or "top") is rendered in gold on the Goshuin, symbolically representing "top." This overlays the wishes of the deity of Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine, known as the guardian of the head, and the hope that each cyclist will advance towards their respective goals (i.e., "top").
Furthermore, the aspirations and momentum of cyclists are expressed as "airflow." This imagery suggests that their wishes will reach the deities and guide them toward the "top" they envision.
Mr. Takuya Murata, Gongonegi (junior priest) of Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine, comments, "Through this Goshuin, we hope that cyclists will once again become aware of the importance of 'protecting their heads' in their daily lives, and that it will serve as an opportunity for them to cycle safely, enjoy riding, and continuously improve themselves."
Gongonegi Murata of Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine
■ May 1, the Date of Commencement, is "Bicycle Helmet Day"
May is designated as "Bicycle Month" every year to enhance awareness of safe bicycle use, improve manners, and promote utilization. OGK Kabuto has established May 1st, the beginning of this month, as "Bicycle Helmet Day."
The distribution will start on May 1st with the desire that people will once again think about safe bicycle use and helmet wearing.
May is Bicycle Month every year, and its start date is established as "Bicycle Helmet Day."
■ Details Regarding the Granting of Bicycle Helmet-Shaped Goshuin
• Commencement Date: Friday, May 1, 2026 ~
• Reception Hours: 9:00~17:00
• First offering fee: 800 yen
* Resale of this Goshuin for profit is strictly prohibited.
■ About Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine
(URL: https://koubenomiya.or.jp/)
Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine (Kōbenomiya Yomō Jinja) is revered as the guardian deity of the head, the great god of wisdom, and a deity for warding off disasters.
Affectionately called "Atama no Miyasan" (Mr. Head Shrine), Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine is said to have been founded in Kenkyū 2 (1191), during the late Heian period. It enshrines the skull of Lord Karahashi Chūjō Mitsumori, a descendant of the 50th Emperor Kanmu, and is thus revered from various regions as the "guardian deity of the head" and "great god of wisdom." It is also said that divine assistance can be received when praying for matters related to the upper body. Furthermore, the name "Yomō" (四方) means that its divine virtues spread in all four directions (east, west, north, south), making it also revered as a deity for warding off calamities and disasters. Its divine virtues include success in various exams (entrance exams, national exams, qualification exams), traffic safety, exorcism, warding off evil directions, academic improvement, and head illnesses.
■ "Guardian Deity of the Head" x "Bicycle Helmet Manufacturer": A Shared Desire for Safety
More than half of fatalities in bicycle accidents involve fatal head injuries. Among those who suffered fatal or serious head injuries, the proportion of non-helmet wearers was about 1.7 times higher than that of helmet wearers. Protecting the head directly leads to protecting life. OGK Kabuto, in addition to planning, developing, and selling products, actively engages in helmet use awareness campaigns for bicycle riding in collaboration with local governments, police, and educational institutions.
On the other hand, Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine, founded in the late Heian period and affectionately known as "Okashira-san" since ancient times, is Japan's only "guardian deity of the head." Since 2022, it has started "helmet purification" as part of its traffic safety prayers.
This project was realized because the shared belief of both parties, "to protect important heads and wish for safety," resonated with each other.
Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine also conducts helmet purification.
As a new form of safety awareness that fuses traditional "prayer" with modern "manufacturing," the production of the "bicycle helmet-shaped Goshuin," the first of its kind in Japan, came to fruition.
■ Thoughts Behind This Goshuin and Its Design
The motif of this Goshuin adopts the shape of the "AERO-R2," a track racing helmet that inherits the aero performance of helmets used by the Japanese National Team/athletes in international bicycle races.
Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine was responsible for the design. The pattern embodies the "self-control" (Kokki-shin) of cyclists who accumulate daily efforts, and the desire to aim for the top and continuously update their personal goals step by step.
Kabuto AERO-R2 (27,500 yen)
The character "頭" (atama/kashira, meaning "head" or "top") is rendered in gold on the Goshuin, symbolically representing "top." This overlays the wishes of the deity of Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine, known as the guardian of the head, and the hope that each cyclist will advance towards their respective goals (i.e., "top").
Furthermore, the aspirations and momentum of cyclists are expressed as "airflow." This imagery suggests that their wishes will reach the deities and guide them toward the "top" they envision.
Mr. Takuya Murata, Gongonegi (junior priest) of Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine, comments, "Through this Goshuin, we hope that cyclists will once again become aware of the importance of 'protecting their heads' in their daily lives, and that it will serve as an opportunity for them to cycle safely, enjoy riding, and continuously improve themselves."
Gongonegi Murata of Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine
■ May 1, the Date of Commencement, is "Bicycle Helmet Day"
May is designated as "Bicycle Month" every year to enhance awareness of safe bicycle use, improve manners, and promote utilization. OGK Kabuto has established May 1st, the beginning of this month, as "Bicycle Helmet Day."
The distribution will start on May 1st with the desire that people will once again think about safe bicycle use and helmet wearing.
May is Bicycle Month every year, and its start date is established as "Bicycle Helmet Day."
■ Details Regarding the Granting of Bicycle Helmet-Shaped Goshuin
• Commencement Date: Friday, May 1, 2026 ~
• Reception Hours: 9:00~17:00
• First offering fee: 800 yen
* Resale of this Goshuin for profit is strictly prohibited.
■ About Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine
(URL: https://koubenomiya.or.jp/)
Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine (Kōbenomiya Yomō Jinja) is revered as the guardian deity of the head, the great god of wisdom, and a deity for warding off disasters.
Affectionately called "Atama no Miyasan" (Mr. Head Shrine), Kōbenomiya Yomō Shrine is said to have been founded in Kenkyū 2 (1191), during the late Heian period. It enshrines the skull of Lord Karahashi Chūjō Mitsumori, a descendant of the 50th Emperor Kanmu, and is thus revered from various regions as the "guardian deity of the head" and "great god of wisdom." It is also said that divine assistance can be received when praying for matters related to the upper body. Furthermore, the name "Yomō" (四方) means that its divine virtues spread in all four directions (east, west, north, south), making it also revered as a deity for warding off calamities and disasters. Its divine virtues include success in various exams (entrance exams, national exams, qualification exams), traffic safety, exorcism, warding off evil directions, academic improvement, and head illnesses.