in 935, fujisaki hachimangu was established with the bunrei of iwashimizu hachiman-gū kyoto, at chausuyama (now kumamoto fujisakidai baseball stadium), kumamoto castle at the order of emperor suzaku. the word fuji derives from a tale that at the time of establishment, sticking of fuji resulted in fuji wisteria taking root and grew. fujisaki hachimangu has been respected as the defender of higo, kumamoto prefecture. in 1542, emperor go-nara presented a wooden frame "八幡藤崎宮" which is now engraved over the torii. rebuilding of the shrine, 20 years apart, had been made with the order of the emperor.