- Title: Japan celebrates Christ in Shinto-style festival
- Date: 4th June 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 64-YEAR OLD DANCER AT CHRIST FESTIVAL, MARIKO HOSOKAWA, SAYING: "I felt the landscape here is the same as what I saw in Golgotha." VARIOUS OF THE CROSS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) FESTIVAL VISITOR, YUKIE SAKANE, SAYING: "If this is true, that would be amazing, and this would feel very sacred. I was moved and it really drew my curiosity." STONE PLAQUE READING (English): "THE STONE ON THE RIGHT WAS DEDICATED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF JERUSALEM AS A TESTIMONY OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN SHINGO AND THE CITY OF JERUSALEM AND THE STATE OF ISREAL / JUNE 6, 2004" STONE PLAGUE WRITTEN IN HEBREW (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) CHRIST FESTIVAL ORGANIZER, TAKAYUKI NAGAMINE, SAYING: "A "Christ Legend" exists here in Shingomura, and though this event is named 'Christ Festival' what we do every year is comfort the spirit (of Christ), through a memorial service."
- Embargoed: 18th June 2017 07:08
- Keywords: culture Aomori celebration Japan festival Jesus Christ
- Location: SANNOHE, JAPAN
- City: SANNOHE, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0046JV3CD5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday (June 4) to celebrate "Christ Festival" at Shingomura village, in the northern Japanese prefecture of Aomori, where some believe Jesus's body is buried.
Women dressed in traditional Japanese garments 'yukata' danced around a wooden cross, along to a gibberish folk song that has no meaning in Japanese, but according to some, means "give glory to God" in Hebrew.
Many, including visitors from overseas, said they were excited to see Christ's tomb.
The ritual followed with a Shinto priest performed rituals to ward off evil, and comfort the spirit of Jesus Christ.
According to religious writings called the "Takenouchi Documents" found in Japan in 1936, and apparently destroyed during World War II, it was Jesus' younger brother, Isukiri, who died at Calvary, while Jesus escaped and settled down in Japan. He married a Japanese woman and had three children before dying at the age of 106 from natural causes.
The event marked its 54th this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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