A Happy New Year!!
What did you do in Oshogatsu season?
The standard thing to do in Oshogatsu in Japan is “Hatsumoude”.
It is the event to go to Shinto shrine or temple
and thank about last year and greet for this year in Japanese new year season.
Today, we would like to introduce about “Hatsumoude” with Joy from the US.
We went Hatsumoude in January 9th.
The Oshogatsu season was already passed,
but there is no rule when you need to visit the shrine or temple.
Almost all people go there in January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd,
but there are bunch of people in these 3 days,
so we cannot take a picture for this article.
That is why we came here today
when the situation is little bit calm lol (unfortunately, it was rainy day)
The place we visited was Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine)
It is the most famous shrine in Japan,
and about 3 million people come here only for the first three days of the year.
THAT IS WHY WE CAME HERE TODAY lol
The nearest stations are Harajuku station of JR
and Meiji-Jingu mae station in Tokyo metro.
You can see the Meiji Shrine as soon as you arrive the station,
so We do not think you get lost.
Moreover, it is good idea to go and visit Harajuku after going to Hatsumoude.
Perhaps you can see Rose who has Kendama in Harajuku ?? lol
Anyway, let’s go to Hatsumoude.
We will go through the torii of Meiji Shrine and aim at the Meiji Jingu shrine.
Do not forget the bow when you go through the torii!
After a while, there are lots of barrels for sake on the whole wall!
This is called “Komodaru”, and it is dedicated to God from all over the country
This is the old traditional thing, but because lots of foreigners recently come to Japan,,
wines are dedicated from foreign countries (God might be happy!).
And keep walking in a while, we arrived Meiji Jingu shrine.
Before that, everybody was thirsty, so they were drinking water.
Just kidding
Every shrine has same rule that people need to wash hands here first, and clean yourself.
The official procedure is
Scoop water with a ladle, and wash your left hand.
Then wash your right hand.
Change the ladle once more,
and wash your mouth as it receives water with the left hand.
Then, wash your left hand once more.
Finally, put water in the ladle, gently tilt vertically, and wash the part of the handle.
* Do not let your mouth be touched directly to a ladle.
If you feel hard to remember these procedure,
just see people around you and just pretend!
Then we will enter the precincts.
Well then it’s time to be worshiped.
Shallowly bow, and put the money in the offering box softly.
Regarding money, you do not have to care about how much you need to put,
but generally, 5 yen coin is better.
It is because 5 yen is called “GOEN”, and “GOEN” means luck in Japanese.
.
Correct the posture.
Fold your waist at 90 degrees and bow twice.
Applaud your hands twice in front of your chest and pray.
Then, bow like the beginning as well.
*If you cannot understand how to do, just look people around you and pretend.
Although you make a mistake, the God is not so mean,
so God will hear your requests or wishes properly lol
What is the Joy’s wishes?
We met our friends who are cosplayer coincidently.
“I thanked the all people”
Yes, it is ok to thank for everything, not only wishes.
Well, we were looking forward to have fortune paper.
Omikuji is a fotune paper that tells you the fortune of the year
by Daikichi (best luck), Kichi (luck), Chukichi (so so),
Shokichi (not good luck), kyo (bad luck),
and people always have some feeling by the result.
How was the Joy’s result?
What? What is this saying?
Actually, the fortune paper in Meiji Shrine has not Daikichi or Kyo system,
and the lyrics of the old Emperor’s Waka were written.
We are so sorry for lack of searching!!
Next is the charm.
It is said that if you have the charm, you will be given the benefit of God.
There are various kinds of charms such as health, luck, marriage,
childbirth, academic, safety, or miserable etc…
Moreover, there is also the charm that does not specialize the category
but improves total fortune.
Joy bought the most popular charm.
It is common to put the charm into your bag or wallet.
Let’s keep it in a visible place when keeping it at home.
Finally, it is wooden plaque.
This is also the thing to write a wish in the wooden bidding and put it around.
It is interesting even to see various people’s wishes.
What did Joy write?
Fantastic!!
Finally, the comments from Joy
Hope you have a wonderful 2017.
