Arrival
Amidst the throng of humanity at Sapporo station stands a striking sculpture. Busy commuters hurry past, but the lone figure stands defiantly still. Carved out of yellowish wood, it depicts an Ainu hunter in headdress with a long arrow … Read the rest
Category: Purity and pollution (Page 1 of 4)
A special chance for English-language speakers to participate in celebrating New Year Japanese style with a licensed Shinto Priest based in Los Angeles. Rev. Izumi Hasegawa, of the Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America, is offering this rare opportunity … Read the rest
年越の⼤祓 (Toshikoshi-no-Ōharae)
The Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America, based in Los Angeles, is offering English speakers a rare opportunity … Read the rest
Nagoshi no Harae is a mid-summer purification ritual to rid oneself of ‘impurities’ accumulated during the first six months of the year. There are various means to accomplish this. One is passing through the symbolic wreath known as chinowa pictured … Read the rest
Farming with Kami, Shinto Spiritual Beings
by guest contributor, Sally Writes
Early Shinto was once centered around rice-planting agricultural festivals and reverence for life. As the religion evolved, the importance of rice agriculture remained and Shinto rituals still play a … Read the rest
Thanks to Green Shinto reader, Daniel Oshima, for bringing to our attention the religion of the Akha people who originated from the western part of China (probably Yunnan) but have migrated to Thailand and Burma in recent times. According to … Read the rest
There’s nothing so evocative of Japan as the torii. The stylised gateway is a thing of beauty in itself, but it’s also a symbolic opening that suggests entrance into a different realm. It’s not intended to keep anyone out, and … Read the rest