Purification of those present for the opening of the tea room prior to the formal ritual

Brook’s Co., Ltd. is a Japanese chain of tea and coffee shops, and they recently opened a Japanese tea room called “Koshuen” at 258 rue Saint-Honoré in Paris.

Prior to the opening, a traditional ceremony “Koto-oe-no-mi-matsuri” was performed by Masa Okutani, the priest at the Paris-based Sanctuary Yabuhara, to pay respects to the divinity of the land and space at this place. (Photos are by Yukinobu Kato, a freelance journalist).

Future events of the Sanctuary Yabuhara are planned for June 30 (Great Purification Ceremony), and on July 10 and 11 the Taisai Festival will be held with a ryuteki musical performance followed by traditional kagura dance.

Offerings and a gohei with white strips on a temporary altar

 

Masa Okutani officiating over the opening ritual

 

Masu Okutani reads out the norito specially prepared for the occasion

 

A tamagushi is presented to the Brook’s representative to offer to the kami

 

The tamagushi is offered to the kami by being laid before the altar

 

A French representative gets instruction in how to rotate the tamagushi in order to present it repectfully to the kami

 

After the ritual, participants enjoy a cup of ritual saké (known as omiki).