A bridge registered as a World Heritage site in Nikko, north of Tokyo, has undergone thorough cleaning to prepare for the New Year.
The arch-shaped, vermillion-lacquered "shinkyo", or "god's bridge", is 28 meters long, and lies at the entrance to Futarasan shrine and Toshogu shrine.
On Sunday, priests at Futarasan shrine carried out a ritual to extend gratitude for safety during the year.
Priests and priestesses wearing masks and gloves dusted off the bridge railings with bamboo branches that are about 3 meters long.
Tourists took photos of the cleaning being performed under clear skies.
Year-end cleaning will also be conducted at Toshogu shrine and Rinnoji temple to prepare for worshippers during the New Year holidays.
2010年12月12日日曜日
2010年4月21日水曜日
Chefs offer thanks to kitchen tools at shrine
Japanese chefs have offered thanks for the tools of their trade in a ceremony at a Shinto shrine in Nikko, north of Tokyo.
About 80 professional masters of Japanese cuisine gathered for the annual ritual dedicated to kitchen knives and cutting boards at Futarasan Shrine on Wednesday.
After a Shinto priest offered up a prayer, one of the masters in chef's whites prepared a carp using skills that date back more than 1,000 years.
The chef used a 30-centimeter knife and a pair of 50-centimeter metal chopsticks to skin and cut up the fish without directly touching it.
Visitors looked on as he demonstrated his skills before offering the fish at the shrine's altar.
About 80 professional masters of Japanese cuisine gathered for the annual ritual dedicated to kitchen knives and cutting boards at Futarasan Shrine on Wednesday.
After a Shinto priest offered up a prayer, one of the masters in chef's whites prepared a carp using skills that date back more than 1,000 years.
The chef used a 30-centimeter knife and a pair of 50-centimeter metal chopsticks to skin and cut up the fish without directly touching it.
Visitors looked on as he demonstrated his skills before offering the fish at the shrine's altar.
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