Japanese Characters for Hayama

hayama-mikoshi.jpg

The Shinto system of beliefs is animistic in that it believes that everything from the rocks, to the trees, to buildings, all have a spirit or god, that they call "kami". All Japanese Shinto Shrines are erected in honour of some sort of kami. This particular festival involves the union of two Kami, a male and a female, that dwell in different shrines in the area. Once (and only once!) every 33 years though, they make the journey down to the sea-side for a reunion by way of their portable shrines or "mikoshi". This is a picture of the male mikoshi being carried to the beach.



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