The land in Kamikoya, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, where Omoto founder Nao Deguchi (1837–1918) was born, has been acquired by the religious corporation Omoto (headquarters in Kameoka City). ■ Preserving and maintaining the "Birth Water Well". Founder Deguchi was born in Fukuchiyama as the eldest daughter of carpenter Gorosaburo Kirimura and spent her time there until the age of 19 before being adopted by the Deguchi family in Ayabe City. After her husband's death, she began preaching in the city in 1892 and wrote the "Ofudesaki," which contains prophecies and warnings about the future of humanity. She began missionary activities with co-founder Onisaburo Deguchi, and the teachings spread throughout the country. The birthplace is near the Shinmachi shopping district in the city center, and Omoto acquired about 450 square meters of land and buildings by last autumn. The building, which had been rebuilt by someone else in the Taisho era, was demolished due to aging, but the well used for the founder's first bath was the only thing preserved. It is said that water still comes out, and Omoto considers the well a "treasure" and is considering installing a roof, a memorial monument, and information boards. The religious corporation Omoto stated, "We do not want to build a pretentious building, but rather maintain it in a way that recalls the founder's simple personality. The fact that the founder was born in Fukuchiyama is not known to the citizens. We want to preserve the well forever and have people know about the birthplace.