Hatsumoude

The morning of Kyoto city, near Kyoto Imperial Palace

 Hatsumoude means "First visit to shrine or temple to pray for something" in Japanese. This is one of the most important Japanese custom of the New Year.

 From December 31's midnight to January 1's early morning, most of Japanese go out to shrine or temple for Hatsumoude. Despite the New Year day, trains are runnning all night in the meantime. Some train company permit to bring the sacred fire on a train only this time.

 There's one question. Which is right to visit shrine or temple for Hatsumoude? The answer is whichever is right. The difference of shrine and temple is what is deified.

 Shrine is the place where Gods (Japanese God) are deified. We have the confidence of "Yaorozu no kami" (eight million Gods) , this means that Gods are dwelling in the soil, water, air, everything. So we think that Gods are living in each shrines as a home.

 Temple is the place where the Buddha and the dead person is deified. And this is also the place of ascetic practices for a monk. To find a road of life, people visit a temple.

 From December 31's midnight to January 1's early morning, a big bell is rung in temple. It sounds 108 times. This is called "Jyoya no kane" in Japanese. This is the formality to remove an evil thoughts by ringing a bell 108 times for the New Year.

 

 

Mikane Shrine in Kyoto city

 I want to introduce an interesting shrine where "God of money" is deified in Kyoto city. This is "Mikane shrine". Every shrines has "Torii" (a big gate for God) , which color is red or uncolored. But Mikane shrine's Torii color is gold which is the symbol of money. This is very rare in our country.

 In Kyoto, In Mikane shrine, praying for God is very nice.

"Iwaibashi" for God

Ozouni and Iwaibashi

 Japanese loves New Year, of course, it includes New Year events. Even the TV program, they broadcast special TV program all the day until a week later.

 In Japanese, New Year is "shin nen" (shin means new, nen means year). We clean all over the house, change all life articles around us (toothbrush, cloth, stationary, ...everything) as a ceremony before New Year's Eve. So New Year's life is filled with a lot of new things which contains wishes for New Year. After that, we greet the New Year with the "Osechi ryouri" (special dishes for New Year).

"Osechi ryouri"of ordinary homes (my mam made)

 The morning of New Year, we eat "Ozouni" (In Kyoto, it's white type Miso soup which contains rice cakes and vegetables) as the first eat before eating "Osechi ryouri". Then, we use "Iwaibashi" (chopstick for celebrating) . 

 This chopstick is different with normal type chopstick at the point of its shape. The normal type chopstick's shape is only the one side pointed, but "Iwaibashi"'s shape is both side pointed. Physically, the pointed part of chopstick is for eating action. Conversely normal type chopstick is for one man use. By the way, What for the other side pointed part of "Iwaibashi" ? It is said that the other side of pointed part of "Iwaibashi" is for God (Japanese God). It's called "shin jin kyou syoku" (share dishes with God).

 This custom describe that Japanese who is a buddist has consciousness of worship to God, and want to celebrate the New Year with God.

 This is the beginning of my New Year.

 

 

 

The place "Kyoto"

The sunrise on New Year's Day, 2013. see from exit of Marutamachi Station, Kyoto City Subway 

I was born in, grew up, and now, living in Kyoto.

I've ever seen a lot of faces of Kyoto.

We can get feeling from these faces.

For example, warm wind of spring, heavy rains of summer, cracking sound of autumn, snowing of winter, the morning sun,even the quiet of night, gives us feelings through nerves and emotions.

Every Japanese say Kyoto isn't only the place for sightseeing but such a spiritual place.

I feel that's true.