"The birds flying in the sky
       Are messengers,
           So if you hear the twitter of a cane
                 please demand my name"

                           (Prince Karuno)

  " The days passed so fast
        Since you left here
              So I will go for you
                    Because I can hardly wait for you"

                           (Karuno Ohoiratsume)



    (Extracts of kojiki (by the side of Hiyoku Mound)

In 435, Prince Karuno, the prince of Emperor, Ingyo, fell in unpardonable love with his mother's younger sister, the princess of "Karuno-Ohoiratsume", and he was sent into the Spa of Iyo.
The princess run after him , and they died together in this place.
This is the first incident of lover's suicide in Japan.
At that time, two of them composed the following Tanka ;

"I was sent into the island
      But I am sure that I shall return
           So leave my tatami mat as it is
                And my wife waiting for me respectfully"
                                   (Prince Karuno)
 "The days passed so fast
      Since you left here 
            So I will go for you 
                  because I can hardly wait for you"
                            (Karuno Ohoiratsume)

Karuno Shrine worshiped two of them had been built before one is aware, in this place that called "Himebara".
The "Shintai" of this shrine is their mound - "Hiyoku Mound" that located at the inner part of the shrine, the foot of the mountain.
"Shintai" is the tutelary deity of this district and called "Himemiya-san" as the God of easy delivery.
The spring festival of it is held on Apr.28 every year.
The front shrine of Karuno Shrine was originally located in front of "Hiyoku Mound", but it was moved to this place by the pond because of being broken.
All over the field of oranges in front of "Hiyoku Mound" was called "the Field of Noh" or "Noh Field" and remained people of the old times.

[Notes] "Shintai":
An object of worship housed in a Shinto shrine and believed to contain the spirit of a deity.