French Foreign Legion ritual

Yabuhara Shrine set up for the New Year celebrations

Green Shinto has written earlier of the French connection established by the Yabuhara Shrine in Nagano Prefecture.  (16 minutes walk from Yabuhara JR station in the Kiso district.)  This owes itself to Masa Okutani, son of the chief priest, currently working in Paris.  Now thanks to him, news comes of an interesting development at the New Year, namely a ritual for the well-being of Japanese members of the French Foreign Legion.  (Adapted text and photos courtesy of Masa Okutani.)

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The French Foreign Legion is well known as one of the bravest military services in the world, and there are around 50 Japanese soldiers who work for the legion today.

The good luck charms placed before the altar

On the first of January 2015, there was a ceremony to ask for continuing good luck in combat on the battle field for long time for the Japanese members of the French Foreign Legion. Three red wines made by the French Foreign Legion were offered as sacred sake, O-Miki, for the ceremony.

A charm specially made for the French Foreign Legion has been designed with green and red color which is the symbol color of French Foreign Legion.  In Japan from ancient times the color of green has been regarded as the power of eternity, and the color of red is regarded as the power of purging evil.

Three kami/divinity out of six at the Sanctuary Yabuhara are connected with the military. Susa-no-wo-no-mikoto is embraced by samurai and their family traditionally in Japan; Hayatama-no-wo-no-mikoto and Kotosaka-no-wo-no-mikoto are kami of purging bad situations and of convergence.

Later, the charm will be passed to the Japanese soldiers by the officiating priest at the Sanctuary Yabuhara in France.

Good luck charm specially produced for the French Foreign Legion - an historical event