Jan. 30, 2012
Temples, shrines trying harder to spread happiness in post-quake Japan
Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are trying to make themselves more attractive to people and better serve their life in the first post-quake year this year in Japan.
At Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka, the biggest city in Kyushu, southwestern Japan, priests were busy last week decorating buildings in the premises toward the “mamemaki” bean-scattering party．
Major religious events in February include rituals linked to the “setsubun” season-dividing day, notably the mamemaki party in which celebrities and those chosen from among ordinary people throw soybeans in bags to worshipers while shouting “Good luck in, devils out.” The setsubun day, usually around the third day of February, heralds the beginning of spring in Japan.
As one of the setsubun decorations, the papier‐mâché mask of the “otafuku” funny, moon-faced woman was established in front of the main gate to Kushida Shrine. Worshipers had to stoop to pass through the mouth of the woman’s mask, but many of them looked delighted, because it is believed that the otafuku, as a symbol of well-being, promises people good health and happiness for the year.
The devastating earthquake and the killer tsunami waves on March 11, 2011, claimed about 18,000 lives and dislocated hundreds of thousands of people mainly in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan. But the disaster has also changed Japanese people’s view of life, reminding them of the importance of ties that bind families, friends and community people. The setsubun day comes at a time when many temples and shrines across the country are performing their rites more actively than ever to help cheer up people’s hearts.
Fears which spread among many people after the frightening disaster have largely come to subside, but as Japanese feel that something has changed in their life after the calamity, the series of relatively overlooked seasonal religious rites is expected to be an important opportunity for people to rethink about their life.
Temples, shrines trying harder to spread happiness in post-quake Japan
Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are trying to make themselves more attractive to people and better serve their life in the first post-quake year this year in Japan.
At Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka, the biggest city in Kyushu, southwestern Japan, priests were busy last week decorating buildings in the premises toward the “mamemaki” bean-scattering party．
Major religious events in February include rituals linked to the “setsubun” season-dividing day, notably the mamemaki party in which celebrities and those chosen from among ordinary people throw soybeans in bags to worshipers while shouting “Good luck in, devils out.” The setsubun day, usually around the third day of February, heralds the beginning of spring in Japan.
As one of the setsubun decorations, the papier‐mâché mask of the “otafuku” funny, moon-faced woman was established in front of the main gate to Kushida Shrine. Worshipers had to stoop to pass through the mouth of the woman’s mask, but many of them looked delighted, because it is believed that the otafuku, as a symbol of well-being, promises people good health and happiness for the year.
The devastating earthquake and the killer tsunami waves on March 11, 2011, claimed about 18,000 lives and dislocated hundreds of thousands of people mainly in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan. But the disaster has also changed Japanese people’s view of life, reminding them of the importance of ties that bind families, friends and community people. The setsubun day comes at a time when many temples and shrines across the country are performing their rites more actively than ever to help cheer up people’s hearts.
Fears which spread among many people after the frightening disaster have largely come to subside, but as Japanese feel that something has changed in their life after the calamity, the series of relatively overlooked seasonal religious rites is expected to be an important opportunity for people to rethink about their life.
