- Title: Japan celebrates Christ in Shinto-style festival
- Date: 4th June 2017
- Summary: SANNOHE, AOMORI PREFECTURE, JAPAN (JUNE 4, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JAPANESE WOMEN IN TRADITIONAL "YUKATA" GARMENT DANCING AROUND CROSS BELIEVED TO BE JESUS CHRIST'S GRAVE FEET DANCING WOMEN DANCING AROUND CROSS MEN PLAYING TRADITIONAL "WADAIKO" DRUMS WOMEN SINGING FOLK SONG VARIOUS OF WOMEN DANCING
- 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: LVA0016JV3CD5
- 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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