French ritual

As reported previously on Green Shinto, the Sanctuary Yabuhara based in Paris has been working on a project related to the Japanese members of the French Foreign Legion.  On March 21st, the spring equinox, a ceremony took place in which specially made omamori charms were presented to one of the serving members.  The following report has been adapted from the Yabuhara account of the occasion.  (Photos are by Yukinobu Kato, a freelance journalist in Paris.)

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On 21st of March, there was a ceremony to hand over to members of the French Foreign Legion a charm for good luck in combat. it took place in the center of Paris, and the hundred charms were delivered by an officiant at the Sanctuary Yabuhara to a representative of the French Foreign Legion who was dressed solemnly in respect for the ceremony.

Previously, on the 1st of January 2015 from 2 am, a ritual for good luck in combat for the French Foreign Legion had been held at the Sanctuary Yabuhara. During the ceremony,there was an offering of a pair of Kagami-Mochi (round rice cakes) and three bottles of red wine brewed by the French Foreign Legion.

The charms were specially made for the French Foreign Legion, and green and red colors were adopted into the design which is the symbolic colors of the French Foreign Legion. In Japan, it was believed from ancient times that green indicates eternity and red has the power to eliminate evil spirits.

Some of the Kami at the Sanctuary Yabuhara, namely Koto-saka-no-wo-no-mikoto and Hayatama-no-wo-no-mikoto, are known for solving terrible situations in a flash and turning them into good, while another Kami at the sanctuary, Susa-no-wo-no-mikoto, brings strong luck especially in battles, according to Kojiki, ‘Record of Ancient Matters’ (712), and Nihonshoki, ‘Chronicles of Japan’ (720).

The specially made good luck charm, in the red and green colours of the French Foreign Legion

A historic first for international Shinto