Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Understand
Religion Today
Stroll down Omote-sandō - originally designed as the official approach to Meiji-jingū -
and it would seem that Tokyoites have anointed consumption their new religion. The
reality is more nuanced: more than three million people visited Meiji-jingū during the
first three days of 2013 to ring in the new year in the traditional way.
Rites of Passage
While religion plays little part in the daily lives of most Tokyoites, rites of passage are
marked, as for centuries, with a visit to either a shrine or a temple. Japan's two reli-
gious institutions - its native Shintō, an animist belief system that sees godliness in
trees, rocks and animals, and Buddhism, which arrived via China in the 7th century -
have long co-existed.
Generally, Shintō concerns itself with this life: births and marriage, for example, are
celebrated at shrines. So is Shichi-go-san ( mid-Nov) , a ceremony to protect girls
aged seven ( shichi ) and three ( san ) and boys aged five ( go ), and Coming-of-Age
Day (Seijin-no-Hi; 20 Jan) , the collective birthday for all who turned 20 (the age of ma-
jority) the previous year. Visit a shrine then and you'll see children and adults dressed
in elaborate kimono. Meanwhile, Buddhism deals with the afterlife: funerals and me-
morial rites take place at temples.
Annual Observances
Ganjitsu , or New Year's Day, is the most auspicious day of the Japanese calendar.
Just after midnight on 1 January, crowds begin amassing at temples, where bells are
rung 108 times to cast off the worldly desires of the previous year, and at shrines,
where people pray for health, happiness and prosperity.
Another important annual event is O-bon : three days in mid-August to honour the
dead, when their spirits are said to return to the earth. Many Tokyoites return to their
hometowns to sweep the graves of their ancestors and to participate in bon-odori (folk
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