JAPAN: Japan rings in the new year with 108 gongs

Record ID: 187310

  • Title: JAPAN: Japan rings in the new year with 108 gongs
  • Date: 31st December 2013
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 1, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HOMYOJI TEMPLE TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 31, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRIESTS RINGING BELL TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 1, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FAMILY WALKING UP STAIRS TO RING BELL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RINGING BELL PRIEST OFFERING JAPANESE SAKE IN TENT PRIEST FILLING UP CUPS WITH JAPANESE SAKE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OFFERING CASH AND DRINKING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 21-YEAR-OLD, ERI MUKUNOKI, SAYING: "2013 didn't go so well for me and I was slightly depressed but I would like to pass 2014 with a smile." TEMPLE GOERS SAYING 'CHEERS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!' AND DRINKING SAKE
  • Embargoed: 15th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA2GY10WICGY2NWZ9QFO7UBDQFG
  • Story Text: Temples across Japan rang their bells 108 times to welcome 2014 on Wednesday (January 1).
    More than 400 people visited Homyoji temple in Tokyo to ring the bell, pray and drink Japanese sake.
    According to Buddhism, the human condition suffers from 108 cravings.
    The bells are rung to get rid of these cravings and achieve peace of mind, at least for the start of the year.

    "2013 didn't go so well for me and I was slightly depressed but I would like to pass 2014 with a smile," said 21-year-old actress Eri Mukunoki.
    According to the Japanese calendar, 2014 also marks the year of the horse.
    In 2013, Japan's Nikkei stock average soared 57 percent, its biggest in more than 40 years.
    The tailwind was provided by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's aggressive economic stimulus which has been dubbed 'Abenomics'.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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