from Japan

I missed the ritual that I wanted to go to

I was totally ignorant about the culture of my country when I started to this blog. I started to research as much as possible since the day I realized I was ignorant. Now every time I research, I realize there are a lot more things I still don’t know.

I have decided to try to go to the places as far as the time allows.

Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine is close to where I live.

I wanted to go to “Takarano Ichi”, the rice harvest ritual. I had terrible allergy. Too terrible to go out. So I stayed home. But what is this weather? It doesn’t get cooler. It is still like summer.

When I went to the rice field on later day, the rice was all reaped.



The first crops are dedicated to Jingu. Jingu means Ise Jingu, Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture. Ise Jingu is the highest of all.

There is “Ise Jingu Yohai-sho” in Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine.



I wanted to know how the ritural is proceeded. Maybe next year.


It is the place to worship “Amaterasu Omikami” of Ise Grand Shrine from the distance. Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine's three gods and Amaterasu Omikami are siblings. They have the same parent, Izanagi.


Amaterasu Omikami’s “go-shintai” is Yatano Kagami, Yata’s mirror.


Separate to this harvest ritual, at Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, there is “Niiname Festival” on November 23. It is the festival to give thanksgiving for the harvest.

Nankun-sha and other 3 shrines and Hattatsu-san Festival

Under a huge camphor tree, there is Nankun-sha. This shrine is for development and safety.



There is a monthly festival called “Hattatsu-san” at four branch shrines in Sumiyoshi Shrine. Many people worship at the four shrines: this Nankun-sha, Tanekashi-sha, Ohtoshi-sha, and Asazawa-sha. Every month, there is a small festival at Sumiyoshi-shrine.

Hattatu means the first day of the dragon of each month. You know, each year has its name of the zodiac. Each day, as well, has its name of the zodiac. It is the calendar that people used to use.

Next hattatsu, the first day of the dragon, is the 9th day of October. It is also the first day of Sumiyoshi Expo. There should be a lot of people.

Issun-Boshi and Tanekashi-sha of Sumiyoshi Shrine

At the beginning part of the tale of Issun-Boshi, it says an old couple went and prayed at Sumiyoshi Shrine.

Here’s a simplified version of the tale of Issun-Boshi in English for kids.

http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/folk/issun/index.html


At the edge of Sumiyoshi Shrine, there is a small shrine specifically for asking for a child, and getting “seed” for future prosperity, which means for family prosperity, and business prosperity.



The name of the branch shrine is “Tanekashi-sha”. “Tane” means seed. “Kashi” means to lend.


You can be Issun-Boshi here!

The Stage, Ishibutai in Sumiyoshi Shrine

Right beside the gate of Buddhist temple style walls (Higashi Gakuso and Nishi Gakuso) and the gate (Minami-Mon) , there is a pond. Over the pond, there is a bridge made of stone. On the bridge, there is a stage made of stone, which is called “Ishibutai”. This Ishibutai is one of the three most notable stages in Japan. The others are the one of Shitennoji Temple in Osaka City and the one of Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture.



This Ishibutai is said that it was dedicated by Hideyori Toyotomi (1596〜1615), and is designated as Important Cultural Property.

The traditional Japanese dances are performed on this stage in May.



There are a lot of works going on in Sumiyoshi Shrine right now. Buildings are being repaired in preparation for the 1800th anniversary next year.

More Buildings with Buddhist Temple Features in Sumiyoshi Shrine

I told you Sumiyoshi Shrine had Buddhist Temple called Sumiyoshi Jingu Ji.


Just beside the rice field, there are gates and walls which have the features of Buddhist temple, which were built in 16th century.




Inside of the wall, there is a pond of nice view.


Exhibition about Sumiyoshi Shrine: From October 9 through November 28 at Osaka Municipal Museum of Art in Tennoji Park

Rice field in Sumiyoshi Shrine Now

On June 14, the rice planting festival was taken place.

The rice is growing and is almost ready for its harvest next month.


There is going to be the the harvest ritual on October 17.

Sumiyoshi Shrine Temple

If you get out of Sumiyoshi Shrine from the east side exit, you can see this nice-looking slope. This area may be almost the edge of Uemachi Plateau.


Look at the wall.

There is remaining of the lines. There are five lines. This wall is definitely of the Buddhist temples, not of the Shinto shrine’s.


The more lines, the higher its ranking is. Five is the most. This temple should have been a temple of highest rank.

Why is there this kind wall of the temple in Sumiyoshi Shrine?

Beside the gate, clear lines are remained.


By the way, this gate looks like the temple’s. It may have been painted red later.


There is a building looking like the temple’s building inside of Sumiyoshi Shrine.



The temple, “Sumiyoshi Jingu Temple” actually existed here. It was built in 758, and was demolished as the law was enforced, which commanded the abolition of coexistence of temples and shrines in 1873 in Meiji Era.

The temple had existed in Sumiyoshi Shrine for more than a thousand years. The small pieces of the gate are remained.


This is the monument which proves Sumiyoshi Jingu Temple was here.

Sumiyoshi Festival ~ Mikoshi is crossing the Yamato River

This old style of carrying Mikoshi, a portable shrine, had been ceased for several decades, but it revived in 2005.




With Hankai Densha (Tram)


Mikoshi is taken over from Osaka City side to Sakai City side in the middle of Yamato River.


Performace by Sakai City side people:


Mikoshi went to Sakai City Side, and the parade went on until they get to Branch Shrine of Sumiyoshi Shrine in Sakai City.


When they carry Mikoshi, people say “Wasshoi”, or “Essa”. They don’t make any sense in Japanese, but a few people say, they are comprehensible in old Hebrew. But here, at Sumiyoshi Shrine’s parade, they say “Beera”. It doesn’t make any sense, either. Maybe, it also might be comprehensible in some other language…..

The Parade of Sumiyoshi Festival

The parade of Sumiyoshi Festival was taken place on the first day of August.
The old Edo period style of parade was rivived five years ago, and since then, we can experiece the traditional parade every year. Until then,some of these attractions were carried by trucks.

I saw this parade on Kishyu Road near the Yamato River, in Osaka City side.

Sumiyoshi Odori:


Lion Dance:


Tengu:


Samurai:


Summer Ladies:


A boat with rythms:


Dancing youth group:


Shinme, god's horse, Shirayuki:


Girls pulling a boat:


A boat with Mikoshi, a portable shrine:


Mikoshi carried by men:

Then, we moved to the Yamato River for the climax.
To be continued.

Night Stands at Sumiyoshi Festival

At night during Sumiyoshi Festival, all generations of people enjoy night stands.


Some of them enjoy eating.


Some enjoy games like

Catching small balloons with water inside,


Gold fish catching,


Turtle catchinig,


And more!