- Title: JAPAN: People visit Japan's most popular shrine for prayers on New Year's day
- Date: 1st January 2013
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 1, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MEIJI JINGU SHRINE PICTURE OF SNAKE ON SIGN OUTSIDE SHRINE TO SIGNIFY YEAR OF THE SNAKE COINS BEING THROWN INTO DONATION AREA PEOPLE THROWING COINS INTO DONATION AREA GIRLS WITH RISING SUN FLAG EARRINGS THROWING COINS AND PRAYING MORE OF GIRL WITH RISING SUN EARRING PRAYING MORE OF PEOPLE THROWING COINS COINS IN DONATION AREA VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BOWING, CLAPPING AND PRAYING MAIN HALL OF SHRINE MAN TAKING PHOTO VARIOUS OF SHINTO PRIESTS WALKING THROUGH SHRINE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 58-YEAR-OLD SELF-EMPLOYED TAKAGI MATSUI, SAYING: "Japan is a country that has the potential to become a leader in Asia and I want us to work hard towards that." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 23-YEAR-OLD SELF-EMPLOYED SUZUKA YAZAKI, SAYING: "I want Japan to be a place where people can have space to breathe, where people can smile and be nice to each other." VARIOUS OF ARCHWAY IN SHRINE PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH ARCHWAY
- Embargoed: 16th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: People,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAEWPODRD0CWG1WI1OLWZV3JS90
- Story Text: Japanese visited the Meiji Shrine, Japan's most popular shrine, to appeal to the gods to fulfil their wishes on Tuesday (January 1).
It is customary for Japanese to visit shrines during the first three days of the new year to wish for good fortune and health.
About 94 million people visit shrines all over Japan during this time, according to the National Police Agencies last available nation-wide survey in 2009.
The Meiji Shrine alone attracts more than three million over the three-day period.
A white cloth the size of 400 tatami mats (648 square metres) was laid out to receive coins tossed by people in exchange for a blessing.
Some people wanted Japan to regain some of the prestige which they feel has been lost to its neighbours.
"Japan is a country that has the potential to become a leader in Asia and I want us to work hard towards that," said Takagi Matsui.
Others wanted a Japan that would be kinder to its citizens.
"I want Japan to be a place where people can have space to breathe, where people can smile and be nice to each other," said Suzuka Yazaki.
The ceremony to ask a blessing from the gods is a complex series of bows and claps.
Shrine-goers usually bow once in respect, clap twice, ring a bell if there is one to get the god's attention, throw some money into the donation box, clap once and bow once more.
Christmas, which is a normal workday, is usually a retail event with Japan devoting all its energy to "Oshogatsu," the new year period extending roughly from December 29 to January 3.
The Meiji Shrine is popular for "Hatsumoude," the first shrine and temple visits of the new year, when people go to pray for luck in the coming year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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