Preserving National Character, Sustaining Society as Ise Shrine Rites Start
We should respect and preserve the Japanese national character, which embodies the long history and unique culture of the nation.
A series of rites began in May that will lead up to the Shikinen Sengu ceremony in 2033. That time-honored ceremony takes place once every 20 years. It involves rebuilding the Ise Grand Shrine's main buildings and the transfer of its shinza , the seat of its enshrined deity, Amaterasu Omikami. The first two sacred rites, the Yamaguchisai and Konomoto festivals, were solemnly held recently, following ancient custom.
Two deities are worshipped at the Ise Grand Shrine, which is also known as Ise Jingu. The first is Amaterasu Omikami, the earliest ancestor of the Imperial family and the patron deity of the Japanese people. She is joined by Toyouke no Omikami, the guardian deity of food, clothing, shelter, and all industries.
The Shikinen Sengu ceremony is a major festival in which the shrine sanctuary, home of the sacred treasures and the shinza , along with furnishings and apparel, are renewed. The Emperor himself decides the date and time for this ceremony, which has been held for over 1,300 years. Its events are closely linked to the national character. A Shinto priest and a guardian deity (second from the right) perform the banquet ritual at the Yamaguchi Festival, the first rituall of the Shikinen Sengu. May 2, 2025, at the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture.
This is the 63rd performance of the Shikinen Sengu. The start of its series of solemn rites affords us a golden opportunity to consider the ceremony's significance. Through its rituals, the essence of Japan is developed further as it is passed on to future generations.
The Yamaguchi Festival, held on May 2, is a daytime ceremony to pray for safe felling and transportation of the timber for the new buildings. On the same day, the Kimoto Festival is an evening ceremony to worship the kami dwelling in the tree to be used for the Shin no Mihashira (sacred core pillar) in the center of the floor of the new main sanctuary.
All Ise Shrine buildings are due to be rebuilt eight years from now. Before then, about 30 events and rituals are planned. These include the Okihiki ceremony in which local residents bring in the needed lumber into the shrine site, a Jichinsai Shinto groundbreaking ceremony, and a Ritchu ceremony to erect the pillars of the main hall.
The central ceremony, the Shikinen Sengu rite, will take place in the fall of 2033. That is when the Yata no Kagami sacred mirror, symbolizing Amaterasu Omikami, will be moved to the new sanctuary's Inner Shrine (Naikaku). In 2013, the last enactment of the Shikinen Sengu, the ceremonies cost approximately ￥55 billion JPY (nearly $378 million USD ). These costs were covered by the shrine's own funds and donations from citizens and businesses across the country.
Emperor Tenmu (c 673-686) established the Shikinen Sengu system during the Asuka period (538 CE- 710 CE). The ceremony was first performed during the reign of his immediate successor, Emperor Jito (c 690-697). Ise Grand Shrine rebuilds its main shrine every 20 years. This photograph is from the ceremony in October 2013.
During the Sengoku civil war era, the performance of the ceremony was temporarily discontinued. However, it was thereafter revived, thanks to the patronage of the hegemon Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who followed Nobunaga's wishes. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa Shogunate covered all the costs, as did the national government following the Meiji Restoration.
Under the postwar Constitution, in line with the separation of religion and state, the Japanese government is no longer involved. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the Shikinen Sengu was originally a festival for the entire nation of Japan.
Among its significant features, the ceremony preserves ancient architectural styles to this day. Even though the buildings are repeatedly torn down, they are newly rebuilt in exactly the same way. The techniques for fabricating the sacred shrine treasures have also been faithfully passed down.
Through preserving these traditions and constantly recreating them, the nation's essence can live on forever. In today's world, where there are global calls for a sustainable society, we should be proud of our Japanese ancestors, who have been practicing that very thing for over a millennium.
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
このページを 日本語 で読む
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
10 hours ago
- Japan Forward
My Mother Gave Me Cyanide: Surviving the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria
このページを 日本語 で読む On August 9, 1945, Hiromi Sakiyama's mother pressed a small amulet pouch into her hands. Inside was cyanide. "In case you need it," her mother said. Its meaning was chillingly clear — Soviet troops were invading Manchuria. Sakiyama, now 95, was born and raised in Manchuria. The northeastern region of China had been occupied by Japan in 1931. Japan then established the state of Manchukuo, which lasted until the country's defeat in 1945. Today she lives in Kochi City. For the past three decades, she has dedicated herself to recounting her wartime experiences through lectures and talks. She speaks about student mobilization, the terror of the Soviet invasion, and the perilous repatriation to Japan. At the core of her message lies a conviction: "Peace is not something that is handed to us." Sakiyama began sharing her story in her late 60s, roughly half a century after leaving Manchuria. After marrying, raising children, and caring for her elderly mother in her father's hometown of Kochi, she increasingly asked herself, "What really happened in Manchuria?" Retirement finally gave her the time to reflect on the past. Whenever she learned of documents or materials related to Manchuria, she made a point of traveling to see them in person. She also interviewed other returnees, gathering firsthand accounts. Today, she continues to give lectures throughout Japan, keeping the memories and lessons of that time alive. Hiromi Sakiyama as a student at Shikishima Girls' High School (left) and today (right). Sakiyama was born in Fushun, Manchuria, in present-day Liaoning Province, China. Her father worked for the South Manchurian Railway. When he took a new post with the political organization Concordia Association of Manchukuo, the family moved to Hsinking, now Changchun, the capital of Manchukuo. As she grew older, she entered Shikishima Girls' High School. In her third year, she experienced student mobilization. Her assigned work was known as "balloon making." Day after day, she glued together sheets of Japanese paper and carried out meticulous inspections. It was grueling work for a teenage girl. She recalls, "We couldn't even tell our parents. We were under a gag order." Only after returning to Japan did she learn the truth. The balloons they had been making were actually balloon bombs, about five meters in diameter. They had been planned by the Kwantung Army, the Japanese military stationed in Manchukuo. Believing that she may be the only surviving person who can speak from direct experience, she always shares this story in her lectures. One date remains etched in her memory: May 30, 1945, when Japanese Imperial Headquarters ordered the Kwantung Army and other forces to prepare for war against the Soviet Union. From that point on, the Kwantung Army readied for a war of attrition and abandoned three-quarters of Manchuria. "We weren't told a thing. We were discarded — abandoned. And yet, settlers were still being sent there until July 30," Sakiyama recalls. On August 9, Soviet troops invaded Manchuria. People fled desperately from settler villages, robbed of all their possessions and left almost naked. Sakiyama's home was ransacked. It was then that her mother handed her the amulet containing cyanide. Fearing sexual violence from the invading soldiers, she even cut off her hair and shaved her head. "All the other girls did the same," she says. It was not until a year after Japan's surrender that Sakiyama and her family finally returned to Japan, having barely survived the ordeal. They arrived in Hakata, Fukuoka, aboard an American ship. When land came into view, she threw the cyanide into the sea, thinking, "I'll never need this again." For her, September 10, 1946 — the day she first set foot on Japanese soil — truly marked the end of the war. Sakiyama now shares her experiences together with her second daughter. About two years ago, she returned to the land of her youth in former Manchuria. She searched for the Chinese family who had once been close to hers, but their whereabouts remain unknown. Still, the bustle of the city revived old memories. "Since I was born and raised in Manchuria, it is my hometown," she reflected. "Peace is not something that is handed to us. It must be built through constant effort. This is why I continue to tell my story." Author: Hironaru Kawai, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Japan Forward
17 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Japan Coast Guard Makes Dramatic Sea Turtle Rescue
The Japan Coast Guard saves a sea turtle tangled in ghost gear, drawing wide attention and praise for their often-overlooked marine duties. A Japan Coast Guard officer cuts away netting to free a sea turtle on July 22 off Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture (courtesy of the Japan Coast Guard). On July 28, the 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kitakyushu released a video. It shows officers freeing a sea turtle from an abandoned fishing net off Tsushima, Nagasaki. Lost or discarded fishing gear, known as "ghost gear," can cling to turtles and other wildlife, almost like a haunting. It can wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. The post, intended to spark discussion on marine pollution, drew praise and highlighted a lesser-known aspect of Coast Guard duties. "Easy, easy — don't thrash. We'll let you go," an officer said in the clip. The turtle, about one meter long, thrashed in a drifting net as three officers moved from a patrol vessel to an inflatable boat and cut the lines with a knife. When the net fell away and the turtle dived, one called, "All right! Bye-bye, off you go." The report came on July 22 from a fisherman off Funashi Bay in Tsushima City, the coast guard said. Part of the 7th regional headquarters, the Hitakatsu Coast Guard Station dispatched the patrol vessel Hayagumo (100 gross tons). After the release, the crew recovered the abandoned net. Screenshot from the 7th Regional Office of the Japan Coast Guard sea turtle rescue. The 7th Regional Coast Guard shared the turtle-rescue video on social media on July 28 to raise awareness about ghost gear pollution. In August 2019, officers from the same headquarters freed two turtles tangled in fishing nets off Tsushima. But this time, the response was even greater. The clip has been viewed more than 850,000 times. Furthermore, the video drew unexpected responses. The Hitakatsu Coast Guard Station, Japan's closest to South Korea, primarily handles border security, monitoring foreign vessels, and enforcing maritime law. Many viewers were surprised to learn that its duties extend beyond saving human lives. Others offered praise, invoking the legend of Urashima Taro with comments such as, "You'll be invited to Ryugu Castle!" "Ghost gear harms not only marine ecosystems but also the safe navigation of vessels. Please refrain from dumping unwanted waste or fishing gear at sea," an official from the 7th Regional Headquarters said. Author: Kenta Shiraiwa, The Sankei Shimbun ( Read this in Japanese)
Japan Forward
5 days ago
- Japan Forward
Launch of the Postwar Occupation: General Eichelberger's Diary
On this 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War, I introduce the third in a series from Lieutenant General Robert L Eichelberger's diary. In his own words, Eichelberger takes us from the day Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration to the surrender ceremony, two and a half weeks later. In that time, he launched the Allied Powers' postwar occupation of the country. In the final installment, I introduce Eichelberger's account of his arrival at Atsugi Aerodrome on August 28. The latter story is well known. However, this may be the first time to quote directly from the diaries of the man in charge of the forward element and forces of the Occupation of Japan. Last of three parts Follow the series, General Eichelberger's Diary …The entire command group arose early and after arriving at Kadena strip at 0615 took off at 0700 for Atsugi airstrip. After one of the smoothest air trips I have ever had, we flew in over the Japanese coast and landed at Atsugi at 1200 where we were met at the plane by General [Joseph May] Swing. It immediately developed that two things would be critical. The transportation situation was particularly bad and although the Japanese had provided more than the number of vehicles requested none of them were in good working order. GHQ [General Headquarters of the Supreme Command for the Allied Powers, or SCAP] true to form and promptly grabbed off all the desirable pieces of equipment leaving very little for the latecomers. Whatever GHQ did not grab, FEAF did! I learned at once that the arrangements for the reception of General MacArthur were to say the least incomplete. Communication had not been maintained…and when I inspected the area where General MacArthur's plane was to land, I found practically nothing had been done there. This inspection was made in the company of General Swing who then took over upon my orders and prepared to receive SCAP. When SCAP arrived at 1500 the 11th Airborne band and an honor guard were drawn up, as were a small regiment of correspondents, and photographers, among whom Domei [official news media of the Empire of Japan] representatives were prominent. General MacArthur arrived at 1500 to the minute followed three minutes later by General [George C] Kenney and six minutes later by General [Carl] Spaatz. The latter two received a minimum of attention which may or may not have been accidental… General MacArthur's first statement as he walked out of the plane was, "How are you, Bob?" He then greeted [my Chief of Staff, Brigadier General] Clovis [E Byers] and General Swing and made a brief statement to the press in which he professed satisfaction at the attitude shown by the Japanese in adhering to the agreement. He stated he felt that there would be no unpleasant incident to mar the established truce. He and I then entered the sedan and drove to Yokohama preceded and followed by four truckloads of General Swing's infantry. A quick tour around the city was made and we finally arrived at the Grand Hotel where we were billeted for the night. General Robert L Eichelberger General Douglas MacArthur during the occupation of Japan. (Eichelberger story, screenshot, National Archives) August 30, 1945 (Yokohama Feather Merchants) By nightfall the operation had progressed as designed, the perimeter was established although no report had been received from the 4th Marines. A radio [message] was consequently sent to General [William T] Clement instructing him to report to me at 1000 tomorrow morning.... The New Grand Hotel was filling up rapidly and the most alarming feature was an ever-growing mass of feather merchants who had no part to play and no concern with the operation other than personal curiosity. These served to fill up the available hotel space to the point whereby late in the evening it had become a subject of considerable discussion, with the result that the Eighth Army was requested to make its rooms available for representatives coming in for the surrender ceremony. On hearing this I went out with a Japanese government representative and inspected and selected a house in the suburban area into which it was decided to move the following day. After dinner at the hotel I retired quite early. In the morning I attended a conference with staff members and had a brief interview with General MacArthur during which he indicated that it is his desire not only to move to Tokyo as soon as possible but to have Mrs MacArthur and little Arthur come up to live with him here. This would bear out the statement made by Mr [Sergio] Osmeña in Manila that he thought General MacArthur would no longer desire to live in the Philippines. The movement of Generals Byers and [Frank S] Bowen [Jr, of the G-3 Operations Division] and myself was completed by mid-afternoon and dinner was eaten at the new house. General Clement arrived at 1000 and a brief conference was held with him. The Marines, it developed, landed additional naval personnel for which they had a perfect out in the Operations Instructions which provided for additional troops "if required." Had lunch at the [hotel] and went to the house early in the afternoon where I took a siesta. During the day several difficulties came to a critical point. Eighth Army was required to leave the Grand Hotel and GHQ reaffirmed its acquisitive characteristic by trying to grab off every bit of office space in sight. The transportation problem also had to be fixed and late in the day General [Harold E] Eastwood [in charge of supply and resources] called a conference at which it was decided that all Japanese vehicles would be impounded and confined in a central pool…The impounding was to start at midnight and did so, although it was not very effective. Orders were received and the perimeter extended to the north at the request of the air corps who desire to take over four additional strips in the area west of Tokyo. Arrangements were also made to send the reconnaissance troop of the 11th Airborne Division to…the Tateyama area… September 1, 1945 (Saturday) I left the house at 0800 and arrived at the Customs Building at 0815 where I conferred with [radio broadcaster and war correspondent John] Howard Pyle for a few moments and then broadcast a personal interview with him asking the questions. The broadcast was made to San Francisco and Mrs [Emma] Eichelberger had been notified in advance that the program was going through. She will also be sent a recording of the broadcast. The broadcast went very well. At its completion I left with General Bowen for the Yokosuka naval base. Marine MP [Military Police] picked us up about two miles outside the naval base and we arrived to be greeted by an honor guard. [US Marine Corps] General Clement and Admiral [Oscar C.] Badger, commanding Task Force 31, received me at naval base headquarters. A short time was spent examining air photos of the area and we then went on a tour of the base itself. A large number of midget submarines were there and these were inspected with much interest…I inspected the flagship of Admiral [Heihachiro] Togo during the Russo-Japanese war. This ship has been beached and established as a training vessel. After this a short trip was taken around the area and at 1200 we went aboard the USS San Diego where we had lunch with Admiral Badger. Following lunch the machine shops of the naval base, the big dry dock and many of the small work shops were inspected. We happened to arrive at one jetty just as a Japanese [ship] was being moored. It had been surrendered early in the morning and had a small navy prize crew and one officer aboard…This was probably the most interesting thing seen all day, for the entire personnel of the captured vessel were on the deck and had just come to the shocking realization that they were in the hands of their American conquerors... US Army Airforce planes fly over Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri. (Courtesy US National Archives Identifier 520775) I was up at 0530 this morning and we took a destroyer out to the Missouri , arriving there about 0800. There were foreigners of all nationalities — Russians, Chinese, French, Aussies, English, etc — and I had a chance to talk to them all. We were lined up according to diagram and my place was on the front row of the army section between Generals [Courtney] Hodges and [Robert] Richardson and about five paces from the nearest Japanese. There were hundreds of newsmen and photographers and the ceremony was extremely im-pressive. General MacArthur had [prisoner of war survivors] General [Jonathan M] Wainwright and General [Arthur E] Percival (Singapore) stand with him as he signed. Just after the ceremony hundreds of our planes flew over the Missouri , including about 600 B-29ss. Dress was informal and I wore my tropical worsteds without tie, as did General MacArthur. Neither did he wear his ribbons. The Japanese premier was decked out in tails, striped trousers, top hat and gloves and was attended by two other civilians and some top military men… After lunch I returned to Yokohama by destroyer bringing with me the flag which flew on the Missouri during the ceremony. This I shall present to SCAP. It was also flown at Potsdam during the conference there.... The 1st Cavalry Division began landing today…XI Corps is also beginning to land. The weather continues bad and the airborne landings are proceeding very slowly..... In this way, the occupation of Japan would begin and continue for the next six and a half years, a length probably no one would accurately predict in the beginning. Eichelberger would step down as commanding general of the Eighth Army and depart Japan on August 4, 1948. He published his memoirs of World War II, Our Jungle Road to Tokyo , two years later in 1950 after serialization in the Saturday Evening Post . He passed away in 1961 from post-surgery complications. Reviewed by: Robert D Eldridge, PhD Dr Eldridge is a former political advisor to the US Marine Corps in Japan and author of numerous books on Japanese political and diplomatic history.
