Spatial Structure of Japanese Religion - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 87

in her house after each festival, and the Uwado must keep three taboos for 1
year as a Shinto priest. First, in case of a death in her family, the Kamisama had
to be moved into the Shitado's house the same day. The Uwado went into
mourning for 49 days, and during the mourning period, the Shitado performed
all her duties. Second, taboos restricted the Uwado from eating the meat of
four-footed animals, such as cows, pigs, or sheep, although this taboo was not
strictly observed, and the uwado can eat such meats when out of the alcove.
Third, it was fi rmly believed that a terrible misfortune would befall a person
who opened the door of the box, and no one has ever seen the inside. Worshipers
were still keeping these taboos in 1995, but the conscientiousness has gradually
weakened. This evidence shows the ko in Konomata district do not exist merely
in name; they have a substantial meaning in people's lives.
(3) Religious Events
A record of religious events listing the schedule, name, person-in-charge, place,
and contents for Konomata district in 1995 is shown in Table 3.7 .
A disaster prevention ritual was performed on January 10 and the fi rst musical
band performed on the following day. The Uwado visited Kanamura to buy two
large amulets in the morning of January 10, and she stood each one at two cross-
roads north and south of the community (see Fig. 3.27 ). The amulets, called
tsujifuda, were placed inside a bamboo trunk 1-2 m tall. Although no special
rites attended the standing of the amulet, the ritual should be joined by all mem-
bers of the community. However, in those days only the uwado completed the
ritual. Once the ritual was fi nished, a musical band played. While the Uwado
was drumming, all members visited the Akagi Shrine to celebrate the New Year
in the evening of that day. A watch fi re was lit and the old amulets were burnt.
After that, the Uwado served a simple meal at her house around 8 o'clock. The
next day, all the Ujiko members of the Akagi Shrine gathered there to pray for
the health and longevity of their families with boiled rice mixed with fi sh and
vegetables and a cup of negi (Welsh onion family) soup. Before 1970, worship-
ers used to pay three go (one go is about 0.33 m 3 ) of polished rice and soy sauce,
but today, the Uwado collects 300 yen per household helped by the Shitado and
six group leaders of the neighborhood association.
On March 17, (by both the old and new calendars), the daily visit called
nissan- hajime began and a groundbreaking ceremony was performed at
Matsurida, a former paddy fi eld of Akagi Shrine. It used to happen in the morning
and after lunch, and until the 1940s, people would come and eat together in the
community center. In those days, people took turns to visit Kanamura every day
from March 17 to May 6, of the old calendar. After a rotation was established, the
names of all visitors were written on a pentagonal wooden board. A new rotation
would be established the following year; the old list would be scraped off with a
plane, and new names written. Today, the Uwado visits Kanamura on March 17
of the new calendar, and no other member goes there after that day. When the
Uwado visited Kanamura on March 17, she did not step onto the holy stage, nor
did she receive any amulets. Furthermore, there were no religious events, includ-
ing a meal with kami , when she came back to the community.