Christmas Day with a difference at a laughing festival where you can “open the Rock Door of your heart”.
It takes place on Dec. 25 at a shrine near Osaka, and you can see the event on this youtube video. (If you want to skip the opening ceremonies, go to 2.30 minutes in where the laughing starts in earnest, so to speak. It lasts until the 5.00 min. mark.)
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Dec. 22, 2012 Japan Times
Come laugh your heads off at Osaka shrine
Visitors to Hiraoka Jinja Shrine in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, can join in the laughing ceremony Tuesday to welcome a more joyous new year.
During the free event, which starts at 10 a.m., priests will encourage attendees to laugh for about 20 minutes. There will also be a laughing contest from 11 a.m. in which anyone can take part.
The shrine is close to Hiraoka Station on the Kintetsu Nara line.
For additional information, visit www.hiraoka-jinja.org/special/2012-owarai-shinji.html (in Japanese) or call (072) 981-4177.
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