Author: John D. (Page 105 of 202)

Iki, Island of Shrines

June 7, 2014 / John D. / 0 Comments

Monkey magic: Saruiwa (Monkey Rock) is a jagged offshore rock resembling a monkey that the gods used
to “peg” Iki Island in place. (Photo Edan Corkill)

I stopped off once briefly at Iki while island hopping my way from Korea to Japan. There are ferries that go direct between Busan and Fukuoka (Hakata Port), but there are also ferries that stop at Tsushima, close to Korea, then at Iki, closer to Japan.

I didn’t stay long on Iki because I was in a hurry to get on with my journey into the Kyushu mythology of the Kojiki. However, an article in the Japan Times yesterday suggested that I should have. It has one of the largest concentrations of shrines in Japan. Because of its strategic position, it was an important place for stopping off for trade and diplomatic missions between Japan and the continent. And it’s mentioned in the mythology as one of the eight original islands of Japan.

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Iki Island: the stones and stories that keep paradise from floating away
BY EDAN CORKILL

Despite its picturesque, rocky coastline, Iki’s geography is characterized by gently rolling hills — the highest peak reaches just 212 meters.

Architect Kisho Kurokawa took advantage of this landscape when designing the Iki City Ikikoku Museum, which appears to be dug into one such hill. Opened in 2010 (Kurokawa died in 2007, before it was completed), the building is located in Iki’s southeastern corner, about 20 minutes drive south of Ashibe Port. With grass laid over even the top of some of the structure, it would almost be invisible, but for a lighthouse-like observation tower that juts out from the top and, on a clear day, offers views over most of the island.

The museum was built to house Iki’s many prehistoric artifacts. Because of its location between the Chinese mainland and Japan, Iki has long been a stop-off point for traders, and a vibrant human community has existed there for at least 4,000 years.

One of the museum’s key attractions is a series of highly detailed scale models of an Iki village during the Yayoi Period (200 B.C. to A.D. 250). Some of the models are several meters long, and they detail such activities as fishing, trading, playing, hunting and fortunetelling. Many of the characters move at the push of a button and, extraordinarily, all of their faces have been modeled on the faces of contemporary Iki residents.

The museum also houses many artifacts from the slightly later Kofun Period (250-552), which were unearthed at large burial mounds (called kofun) that dot the Iki landscape. These include impressive ornaments for saddles, bridles and stirrups, and also decorative sword handles.

Once you’ve poured over the kofun’s former contents at the museum, you can also stop by the kofun themselves and, in some cases, actually crawl inside.

Kakegi Kofun, which is located in central Iki, appears to be an almost perfect dome — resembling a grass-covered igloo. Entering from a low stone-framed doorway at one side, visitors can move through three separate vaults, each constructed from giant stone slabs. While there is nothing left inside, it is possible to see the stone “coffin” where the body of an ancient Iki citizen — evidently one of nobility or wealth, considering the grandeur of his burial arrangements — once lay.

The primal pair, Izanagii and Izanami, gave birth to eight islands (eight as a number meaning 'a lot' in ancient times). Seven of the islands are strung around the south-west of Honshu, which was the eighth, and were significant as being on sailing routes for the Yamato clan.

Iki has many other attractions of a spiritual nature. In fact the island has a particularly important place in Japan’s Shinto religion. According to the nation’s creation myth, the god-couple of Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto had eight children, each of whom became the eight “major” islands of the archipelago and, sure enough, Iki was one of them. In fact, as the story goes, little Iki is the older sibling even to Honshu, which is of course now home to Tokyo and more than 100 million people. (For the record, Awaji came first, then Shikoku, Oki, Kyushu, Iki, Tsushima, Sado and Honshu.)

Now the island has one of the greatest concentrations of Shinto shrines (jinja), with 150 in total registered and many more unregistered.

One of the most prominent of the registered jinja is Kojima Shrine, which some have dubbed Iki’s Mont Saint-Michel, because it is situated on a small island that is linked to the main island (in the south) by a thin isthmus that disappears at high tide.

Locals say that not only is the small wooden shrine on the dome-shaped island’s peak sacred, but the island itself is sacred, bestowing good fortune in love to those who visit. But woe betide any traveler who decides to take a branch or rock from the island as a souvenir — misfortune will befall them, the locals warn.

A collection of Jizo at Rokkakudo in Kyoto

Also connected to religious beliefs are seven little jizō (stone statues of a Buddhist deity) that are lined up on a semisubmerged stone plinth at Ashibe, in the island’s east. The Harahoge Jizo, as they are known, are curious because of the small holes in their stomachs. Dozens of stories are told as to why these little beings ended up like this — the holes might have been made to place offerings for ama (diving women) who died at sea — but what is certain is that the little statues like their watery home.

Citing conservation concerns, the local government moved them to dry ground a few years ago, only to be flooded with complaints from elderly locals saying that the jizo had visited them in their dreams asking to be returned to the water. The government complied.

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Getting there: Ferries and Jetfoils run daily from Hakata Port in Fukuoka to Iki Island (travel time by ferry is two hours 15 minutes). Iki -> Tsushima: 2 hours by ferry. Daily flights also operate from Nagasaki Airport to Iki Airport.

One way prices:
Hakata -> Iki, 3720yen first class, second 2670yen, ordinary 1870yen
Hakata -> Tsushima, 7160yen first class, second 5240yen, ordinary 3580yen

ARC at Shimogamo

June 5, 2014 / John D. / 1 Comment

ARC's interfaith delegation pay respects at Kyoto's Shimogamo Jinja

Following the historic conference at Ise Jingu, members of ARC (Alliance of Religions and Conservation) were taken on a tour of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, a World Heritage site. The shrine dates back to a time before Kyoto was founded in 794, and in its precincts is a wooded area the size of three baseball grounds which constitutes a remnant of the original primeval forest that once covered the Kyoto basin.

A Shimogamo priest explains the thinking behind Shinto's sacred trees

A young priest from Shimogamo guided the international group (7 different faiths) around the grounds, explaining how Shinto originated as nature worship and only later put up buildings to house the kami. Special trees were thought to be inhabited by kami, he explained, as the group paused beneath a particularly old and grand specimen. Another sacred tree he pointed out had been struck by lightning, thought to be a divine spark from the heavens.

Inside the shrine the priest explained that the outer perimeter was painted vermilion red, a sacred colour that showed power and warded off evil spirits. It also helped protect the wood. The buildings inside are in bare wood, more fragile, and being natural, closer to the kami.

After a demonstration of how to pay respects, the priest led us into a separate compound where we were treated to a display of the junitoe (12-layered ceremonial robes) worn by Heian noblewomen on ceremonial occasions. Twelve was just a figure to suggest many, and the number of layers is not necessarily twelve at all. In fact, the demonstration put on for the group consisted of ten layers, and at one time there had been as many as thirty as courtesans vied with each other to show their status. (It was only possible to wear that many layers in winter, and as they weighed up to as much as fifty kilos there was not much walking around!)

Afterwards the group was invited to pose with the white-faced and multi-layered model, causing a confused melée. Were the kami entertained? I’m sure they must have raised an eyebrow or two at scenes the likes of which they had surely never seen before. Emperor Komei famously came to Shimogamo Jinja in 1863 to pray that foreign barbarians should not be allowed to darken the sacred soil of Japan. The times they are a-changing!

Explaining why the outer precinct is painted vermilion red, an auspicious colour which originated in China

The beginning of the twelve-layered kimono (junitoe) demonstration, with the model in her 'underclothes'

On goes one of the twelve layers. The woman doing the dressing at the front can never stand up on a level with the imperial princess.

The outer layers have higher status denoted by the emblems with which they are decorated.

The stunning final outfit, complete with fan. The ensemble has to be carefully coordinated in colour terms to match the high standards of Heian aesthetics.

Group pose – not the typical everyday scene at a shrine!

Ise renewal

June 4, 2014 / John D. / 1 Comment

One of the newly built structures, a loghouse rice granary, similar in style to the main shrine building

Visiting Ise in the year after the shikinen sengu cycle of renewal is supposed to be particularly auspicious. The timing of the international meeting this week on conservation held by Jingu Honcho and ARC (Alliance of Religions and Conservation) was thus deliberate and part of the congratulatory celebrations of a successful outcome to last year’s rebuilding of the shrine.

Even the white rooster, loyal servant of the Sun Goddess, looks pure and fresh

There have been doubts in postwar years as to the viability of the enormously expensive operation, in which some 10,000 cypress trees are cut down. There have been questions too about the sustainability. In addition, the craftsmen needed to make the thousands of offerings are increasingly hard to find.

However, with the attendance last autumn of prime minister Abe and his cabinet at the cycle’s climax when Amaterasu’s mirror was moved to its new shrine, there has come a renewed focus on the centrality of Ise to the nation. Now there is a feeling that continuation of the ancient tradition is secured.

Walking around the shrine, there is a sense of new beginnings. ‘You will feel refreshed,’ said the head priest, and it certainly felt as if there was a life-giving fragrance in the air. The pristine wood of bridge and shrine was smooth to the touch and a fine example of the perfection of Japanese craftsmanship.

To my surprise, on wandering over the newly restored bridge I found, however, that one of the many subshrines (125 in all) had not yet been rebuilt, for next to it was a covered construction site for the new shrine. How come? As I pondered the matter, a helpful guard came out and told me that the rebuilding started from the central shrine buildings and worked downwards and outwards. In fact, the rebuilding of small shrines will go on until next year. The focus, however, is very much on the removal of the ‘body spirit’ (goshintai) of Amaterasu omikami to her new home. With the rehousing of the Sun Goddess comes renewal of the nation at large.

A newly built bridge to transport one into a refreshing world of nature and renewal...

... yet on the far side is a shrine whose replacement is clearly still under construction, though the shikinen sengu cycle is said to have been completed.

Major breakthrough

June 4, 2014 / John D. / 0 Comments

Representatives of Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism and Sikhism pose at ise Jingu

Historic firsts were recorded at a major event held jointly by Jinja Honcho (Association of Shrines) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, based in the UK. The venue was the Jinja Kaikan at Ise Jingu, and part of the proceedings involved a parade representing eight different global faiths to Japan’s premier shrine to pay respects to the Sun Goddess.

Iwahashi san of the International Department of Jingu Honcho, one of the prime movers behind the event

The event formed part of the celebrations for the shikinen sengu process of renewal, which reached its climax last year in a ceremony to move the ‘spirit body’ (goshintai) of the Sun Goddess to her new shrine.

The title of the conference was Tradition for the Future: Culture, Faith and Values for a Sustainable Planet. In addition to plenary speeches, there were discussion groups and a symposium attended by over 700 priests involving speeches by Princess Akiko, the chief priest of Ise Jingu, and the patriarch of Shingon Buddhism.

An impressive assortment of dignitaries attended during the three days of the conference including the president of Jinja Honcho, the head of Ise Jingu, the deputy Minister of the Environment, the governor of Mie Prefecture, the deputy mayor of Ise, the British Ambassador and a representative from the UN (the talks are intended to feed into its Sustainable Development Goals programme currently under consideration).

This was an exceptional gathering in every sense, and with simultaneous translation, welcoming of other faiths, and commitment to international collaboration, it marked a significant step for organisations such as Ise Jingu and Jinja Honcho. It showed quite clearly that conservation is firmly on the agenda for Shinto, and hopefully the talks here will carry over into specific action and lead in time to a change in mindset. Over the coming days Green Shinto will be carrying more detailed reports about this exciting development.

The Main Hall of Jingu Kaikan fills up with international delegates at the front, and behind them some 500 Shinto priests who had come from all parts of the country to hear talks by Princess Akiko, the Deputy Minister of the Environment, and the head of Koyasan, the Chief Patriarch of Shingon Buddhism.

Participants descending the steps after paying respects at Naiku to the Sun Goddess. At the front is the patriarch of Shingon Buddhism, followed by others in religious garb. It's thought that such a diverse grouping of world faiths may constitute a first for a visit to pay respects in the outer compound at Naiku.

Greening Shinto

June 1, 2014 / John D. / 5 Comments

On the eve of a major international conference devoted to Shinto and conservation, it’s pertinent to consider the implications of this breakthrough event and how vital it is to the future of Japan’s indigenous faith.

‘Greenwashing‘ is when a company or organisation seeks to gain advantage by falsely claiming that it is committed to green policies. It’s become so fashionable that every big environment-destroying multinational has jumped on the bandwagon. Even McDonald’s does it. But recycling paper plates while levelling huge areas of forest to feed corpulent carnivores is hardly likely to save the planet.

'It's good I'm Japanese' says a Jinja Honcho poster identifying with the risiing sun, symbol both of Japan and Amaterasu, the imperial ancestor

Jinja Honcho’s partnership with the prestigious international ARC (Alliance of Religions and Conservation) brings Shinto much kudos, for it becomes one of only 11 religions to hold such status. Even though it is all but restricted to one country, it becomes elevated thereby to global status. Yet though it benefits from the partnership, its record on green affairs raises serious questions.

In their book A New History of Shinto, leading scholars Mark Teeuwen and John Breen point out that while there is much in Jinja Honcho English-language literature about being a nature religion, this is downplayed in its Japanese-language literature. Moreover, its actions often point to other priorities, giving rise to a concern about greenwashing.

It may seem strange to question the commitment of an organisation representing an animist religion, but Shinto isn’t simply animist. It’s a religion of ancestor worship too. At a national level, this is expressed through worship of imperial ancestors, which means that it can become fiercely patriotic and centered around loyalty to the emperor. Expert observers like Lafcadio Hearn and Ponsonby Fane noted this long before WW2. Others, like Ian Reader, describe Shinto as a ‘religion of Japaneseness’ for this very reason.

The marriage of animism and ancestor worship finds supreme outlet at Japan’s premier Shinto shrine, Ise Jingu. Does it derive its primacy from being the seat of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu ōmikam? Or does it derive its primacy from being the seat of the ancestral founder of the imperial line?

A Jinja Honcho poster showing hands in prayer to a talisman of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. Can we expect to see expensive campaigns in future promoting conservation issues?

The short answer is both, for ancestral and animist spirits have been conflated since ancient times. However, ever since the Meiji Restoration in 1868 an ideology has been in place to privilege the emperor and his lineage. That policy continues today in Jinja Honcho’s emperor-centred policy of promoting and funding the imperial shrine through a campaign of selling Ise taima (tailsman). This aims to raise awareness and money for the seat of the imperial ancestor. (At least half of the shrine’s income is said to derive from the sale of taima.)

While it is common to see Jinja Honcho posters promoting patriotism and the importance of Ise, I have never seen a single poster promoting conservation and commitment to green values. In addition, the semi-official publication Jinja Shinpō constantly carries pro-imperial articles and arguments in favour of defending Japanese interests, while at the same time belittling green issues and urging priests to be anti-animal rights (see page 6 of the contents listed here).

Can an organisation be anti-animal rights yet pro-conservation? In a paper for the Club of Rome, Martin Palmer of ARC has written: “The growth in concern about animal welfare is a recognition that other creatures have consciousness and is part of a return to an ethos that we are part of nature not apart from nature.”

Shinto thus stands at a crossroads. Is it part of a universal ethos based on being a part of nature? Or is it a particularist religion based on being apart from others? Is it going to devote its main efforts to boosting the imperial seat at Ise, or is it going to throw its resources behind the cause of conservation?

Near where I live in Kyoto, an attractive shrine along the grounds of Gosho (Former Imperial Palace) has engaged in a major piece of environmental destruction by cutting down trees immediately in front of its torii and clearing the ground to build a large, expensive apartment block (see photos below). This has no doubt been done to ensure the financial security of the shrine in a secular age.

'Let's pray at Ise' says this Jinja Honcho sponsored slogan, part of a concerted campaign to direct shrine visitors thoughout Japan to focus on the seat of the imperial ancestor.

But if Jinja Honcho was seriously concerned with conservation, surely it would be helping shrines like Nashinoki Jinja protect rather than destroy their green surrounds. Unfortunately this appears not to rank on Jinja Honcho’s list of priorities, however, because the whole set-up is directed towards taking money from small local shrines and funnelling it towards promoting the imperial cause. Small shrines suffer at the expense of the Ise taima campaign.

Why has there been no Shinto voicing of support for conservation and green issues? Why has Jinja Honcho not been a leading spokesman against the wide-scale destruction of the environment carried out by successive Japanese governments?

According to the horrific portrait of environmental damage in Alex Kerr’s Dogs and Demons, Japan uses more than four times as much concrete as the whole of the US – yes, the whole of the US (Japan is less than the size of California)!! All but one of the major rivers have been dammed, 60% of the coastline covered in blocks, and huge public works (not always necessary) litter the countryside.

One reason why Jinja Honcho has not spoken out is because of its close alliance to the political party responsible for all this: the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party). The right-wing, construction-friendly orientation of the party means placing profit before conservation, and political interests above the interests of nature. Because of its nationalist orientation, official Shinto has thus largely ignored conservation concerns.

The woods at Shimogamo Jinja in Kyoto offer a shining example of the work that Shinto shrines can do with their sacred groves

An example of the bias is given in A New History of Shinto (page 209), in which it is revealed that the first ever editorial in Jinja Shinpo concerning the environment only appeared in 2008 (why so late?). The editorial focussed on a need to protect shrine groves, not for ecological reasons but because they were able to foster in children a love of community and thus a patriotic love of Japan. Moreover, the woods were declared to be a means of restoring a sense of pure Japanese ethics and undoing 60 years of malign Western influence. What would ARC think of that?

One sees then that the collaboration between Jinja Honcho and ARC has enormous consequences, which could in time lead to a serious reevaluation of values. That is what makes this conference so exciting. Will the Association of Shrines continue looking to the past, reaffirming the structures of the Meiji Restoration and struggling with the legacy of WW2? Or will it look forward into the twenty-first century by committing itself to a genuine policy of conservation based on universal and animist values?

This blog has noted on several previous occasions that there are significant signs of green awareness by shrines and shrine priests. The Shasou Gakkai is a prime example, documented in a list of five green developments by Aike Rots here. In addition, in a most welcome recent development Jinja Honcho made a pledge to purchase timber for its shrines only from sustainably managed forests.

Shimogamo Shrine next to where I live has a shining example of conservation in its Tadasu no mori primal woodland. Moreover, Kifune Shrine just north of Kyoto says this in its shrine literature: ‘It is a shame that Japanese people seem to have lost their appreciation and respect for nature. Isn’t it time for the people of Japan to reclaim this special ‘Japanese spirit’ that was previously exhibited long ago? It is the hope of Kifune Shrine people all over the world will become aware of this ‘Japanese spirit’ and once again become involved in protecting our precious environment.’ (interesting attempt to combine particularism with universalism there!)

The time is thus ripe for a new Restoration. A Restoration of genuine animism, in which the Earth is treated as sacred and not as a commodity. Green Shinto has no doubt about where it stands. How about Jinja Honcho? This is what I hope to investigate over the coming two days.

Nashinoki Jinja in Kyoto is dedicated to heroes of the Sonno Joi movement (Respect the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians). It looks like a perfect match of ancestral spirits with animism...

... but it's sold off the wooded area directly in front of the torii, which has been cleared and concreted over to construct an exclusive apartment block. Can Shinto change to be a religion of conservation?

A religion of conservation, or (notice the flag) a religion of Japaneseness?

Conservation Conference

May 31, 2014 / John D.

Green Shinto is delighted to have been invited to report on a major conference happening over the next few days at Ise Jingu, which involves the UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation together with the National Association of Shrines (Jinja Honcho). The discussions will feed into policy making at the UN through consideration of its Strategic Development Goals.

This is in every way a first of its kind, and marks a breakthrough in terms of the open, international and environmental values to which Green Shinto is dedicated. We are very much looking forward to participating in this exciting event and reporting in the coming week on the exchange of opinions and possible outcomes. One key focus of attention will be the issue of ‘green pilgrimages’, in which Japan of course has enormous if sometimes unfulfilled potential.

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Historic meeting of Shinto priests and international environmental and religious figures to take place at Ise
May 19, 2014: Arc website posting

A unique meeting of 700 Shinto priests and leading international environmental and religious figures at the major Japanese shrine next month will help carve the future of how the world develops.

Jinja Honcho, the Association of Shinto Shrines in Japan, is holding its first ever international meeting, taking place in the sacred pilgrimage shrine of Ise from 2-4 June. This historic event is part of the commemorative events to celebrate the 62nd Shikinen Sengu of Jingu, also known as the 62nd rebuilding of the Grand Shrine.

Procession at the shikinen sengu renewal ceremony at Ise in 2013 (courtesy ARC)

With a dramatic opening ceremony and procession across the main ceremonial bridge to the Toba shrine (on June 2), “Traditions for the Future: Culture, Faith and Values for a Sustainable Planet” will be both a thoroughly modern and a thoroughly ancient approach to coming together to work out how to protect this planet, a planet on which, Shintoism believes, every rock and every tree – indeed all life – is sacred.

ARC Secretary General, Martin Palmer: “ARC is honoured to not only be invited to be Jinja Honcho’s main partner in this historic event, but also, for the first time ever, to bring the UN to engage with this ancient tradition – and with all the traditions and faiths coming to Ise. Together we are shaping a better future!”

The discussions will feed directly into the Strategic Development Goals of the United Nations (which follow on from the Millennium Development Goals 2000-2015 and will start in 2015), but they will also lead to a host of practical environmental actions from religions around the world.

(courtesy ARC)

In addition to key discussions and planning of values helping draw in insights, not just from faiths, but also the Arts and Media; subjects include how religious groups can protect endangered wildlife and how pilgrimage (which involves more than 200 million separate visits to holy places around the world every year) can become more of a blessing to the earth, and less of an ecological threat. Some 8 million pilgrims visit Ise alone every year, for example, which has the benefit of opening many people to a spiritual, natural experience they will carry into their everyday lives, but at the same time it stretches resources, and leaves pollution.

The conference at Ise will also hear a keynote address from Olav Kjorven, Assistant Secretary General at the UN, who has been responsible for pushing the SDG process forward. Delegates will be able to make direct contributions to this discussion and to the SDGs as part of the event programme.

Held in collaboration with the UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), this is the first time Shintoism has organized such an event and it represents a historic opening of the Shinto religion towards other faiths and cultures.

“The Japanese spirituality inherited from the ancient ancestors has been gradually lost or hidden somewhere deep in our consciousness. It might not be an exaggeration if we said that not only environmental problems but also all problems of modern society have been caused by lack of the awe, reverence, and appreciation for nature that ancient people used to have and taught us.” – the Shinto Statement on the Environment, 1995

OCEANS OF THE FUTURE

At the same time as the Ise event, the great historic city and Shinto shrine of Munakata in Kyushu, Japan is showing how Shintoism is taking seriously the challenges of the environment.

With its theme “Oceans of the Future” (30th May to 2nd June 2014) the shrine and the city in partnership with UBrainTV, one of ARC’s media partners are bringing together religious, political, economic and scientific leaders to debate the future of the oceans.

ARC has been honoured to have been part of the initial planning group and welcomes this new development of engaged Shintoism. This year’s event is planned to be the first of a long term series of annual environmental events.

Key speakers include José Ramos-Horta, Former president of East Timor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chairman, of the International Panel on Climate Change.

As part of this innovative programme there is a major focus on youth leadership and reaching out to young people.

Highlights of the meetings will be available on UBrainTV in the next few weeks.

Harmony with surrounds, here exempified at Ise, was once a core Shinto value, lost in an age of materialism when shrine grounds are often turned into car parks. It's high time to restore the traditions of the past and promote conservation for the future.

Ancient ties (imperial wedding)

May 29, 2014 / John D. / 2 Comments

Izumo Shrine's reputation as the most famous 'enmusubi' (love connection) spot in Japan is likely to be cemented by news that the son of its chief priest met his imperial fiancée at the shrine

In Japanese mythology – ancient history perhaps – Izumo was a leading kingdom which was absorbed into the Yamato state after several emissaries (armies) were dispatched. Izumo agreed to cede worldly power in return for spiritual autonomy, and a huge shrine was erected for worship of the clan founder, Okuninushi.

A millennium and a half later the ties between the ancient kingdoms are being renewed. In a stunning affirmation of tradition, an imperial princess of the Yamato lineage has become engaged to the son of the chief priest of Izumo. The latter holds a hereditary position allegedly stretching back to a time when a descendant of the Sun Goddess took charge at the Izumo shrine (see below).

It speaks to the hold that the Yamato dynasty still has over the nation, to the power of tradition in Japan, and to the vital role of the heredity principle in the country’s affairs, even now in a supposedly ‘democratic age’.

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Princess Noriko to wed son of Izumo-Taisha chief priest
KYODO MAY 27, 2014

Press interview to announce the wedding of Princess Noriko and Senge Kunimaro (Wikicommons)

Princess Noriko, second daughter of Princess Hisako and the late Prince Takamado, has become engaged to the eldest son of the chief priest of Izumo-Taisha, the grand shrine in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, the Imperial Household Agency said on Tuesday.

Princess Noriko, 25, and Kunimaro Senge, 40, will wed this autumn, according to the agency.

It will be the first marriage involving an Imperial family member since Princess Sayako, now Sayako Kuroda, married an official of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2005.

The Senge family has been in charge of shrine rituals at Izumo-Taisha for generations, and had been friendly with Prince Takamado and Princess Hisako before the prince passed away in 2002.

Princess Noriko first met her fiance in April 2007, while she was on a visit to the shrine with her mother.

A graduate of Gakushuin University, she has two sisters; her elder sister Princess Tsuguko and younger sister Princess Ayako.

Kunimaro Senge served as priest at shrines in Tokyo and Kyoto after graduating from Kokugakuin University, and has assisted his father, Takamasa Senge, 71, since March 2005. He has two younger brothers.

Prince Takamado was the third son of Prince Mikasa, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.

Princess Hisako said of the engagement, “I hope Noriko will raise a loving and happy family and will adapt to a new life.”

“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001311030

Princess Noriko (copyright Yomiuri)

The engagement between Princess Noriko and Kunimaro Senge, 40, will become formal after “Nosai no gi,” a traditional rite of betrothal, scheduled for July. The wedding will be held in Izumo Taisha around October, according to the agency.

Senge was born on Sept. 2, 1973, the eldest son of Takamasa Senge, the 71-year-old chief priest of Izumo Taisha, and his wife Ayako, 64.

The Senge family has been in charge of rituals at the shrine for generations. Senge studied Shinto at Kokugakuin University and has served as a priest at multiple shrines, including Iwashimizu Hachimangu shrine in Kyoto, after graduating from university.

He is currently holds the position of “negi” senior priest at Izumo Taisha. He takes photographs as a hobby.

“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/05/27/wedding-bells-to-ring-for-japanese-princess/

As required by Imperial House Law, Princess Noriko will exit the Imperial House upon marrying. With only three princes in line to succeed the current Emperor, and the seven princesses possibly marrying outside of the Imperial Family, Princess Noriko’s marriage could reignite the discussion on amending this law to ensure the stable continuation of the Imperial Family.

The administration under the previous Democratic Party of Japan considered amending the law to allow the Emperor’s daughters and granddaughters to remain in the Imperial House after marriage. But the discussion has stalled under current administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

Kunimaro Senge’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kunimaro-Senge/100005746385569

Senge Kunimaro (Yomiuri)

Administrator’s Family (Senge family) Wikipedia…
The descendants of Amenohohi-no-mikoto, the second son of Amaterasu-oh-mi-kami, the sun goddess whose first son is the ancestor of the imperial family, have been, in the name of Izumo Kokuso, or governor of Izumo, taking over rituals because when Izumo-taisha was founded Amenohohi-no-mikoto rendered service to Okuninushi-no-kami.

The family’s conflict around 1340 made them separated into two linage, Senge(千家) and Kitajima. After the separation those two families took the position of Izumo Kokuso by turns until late 19th century.

Shintoism was reconstructed as modernized Japan’s national religion in late 19th century . In 1871 Izumo-taisha was designated as an Imperial-associated shrine and the government sent a new administrator so Izumo kokuso families were no more the administrators of Izumo-taisha. Senge and Kitajima established their own religious corporations respectively, Izumo-taisha-kyo by Senge, and Izumo-kyo by Kitajima.

Under the allied occupation after World War Two, Shintoism was separated from the government control and Izumo-taisha was reformed into a private shrine, then Senge and its Izumo-taisha-kyo took back the position of the administrator of Izumo-taisha.

Takatoshi Senge, the 83rd-generation head of Senge linage, was chosen to be the chief priest of Izumo-taisha in 1947. He died in February 2002 at the age of 89. Now the position of the administrator of Izumo-taisha is succeeded by Senge linage.

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Asked at the May 27 news conference how she felt about having to leave the imperial family, Princess Noriko said she is not in a position to comment on the issue.

“I feel a certain sadness in leaving the imperial family and anxieties about a new life in Izumo, but it seems not different from what many women feel when they get married,” she said.

(http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201405280042 by Yasuhiko Shima and Ayako Nakada.)

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Bird-watching acts as cupid by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Bird-watching served as cupid for Princess Noriko and Izumo Taisha shrine priest Kunimaro Senge, whose engagement was decided informally Tuesday.

They came to know each other through bird-watching, a common hobby of their families. The two families have been on familiar terms since before Princess Noriko’s father, Prince Takamado, died suddenly in November 2002.
Princess Noriko, 25, and Senge, 40, have fostered their love through the close friendly relationship of the two families.

Princess Hisako and Princess Noriko, her second daughter, entered the Imperial Palace before 10 a.m. Tuesday and reported the informal engagement with Senge to the Emperor and Empress. Their marriage plans have rapidly accelerated since the turn of the year, said sources close to their families. They first met when Princess Noriko and her mother visited Izumo Taisha in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, in April 2007 after Princess Noriko, then 18, entered Gakushuin University in Tokyo.

Tying the knot in a big way