A group of men has braved freezing weather and doused themselves in cold water to pray for good fortune in a traditional ritual in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan.
The 27 men took part in the "Kan no Mizu" ritual in the town of Miyota on Saturday night.
The event is held on the coldest day of the year on the traditional calendar. It returned to its regular form for the first time in four years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The men clad only in red loincloths and straw crowns began their walk to Kumano Shrine in the town. In the falling snow, they repeatedly drew water from wooden tubs placed along the way.
When they arrived at the shrine, they dedicated the crowns and prayed for good health and a bountiful harvest.
One participant in his 20s says the water was cold, but refreshing. He says the ritual is an important event for men in the community and taking part in it made a man of him.
The 27 men took part in the "Kan no Mizu" ritual in the town of Miyota on Saturday night.
The event is held on the coldest day of the year on the traditional calendar. It returned to its regular form for the first time in four years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The men clad only in red loincloths and straw crowns began their walk to Kumano Shrine in the town. In the falling snow, they repeatedly drew water from wooden tubs placed along the way.
When they arrived at the shrine, they dedicated the crowns and prayed for good health and a bountiful harvest.
One participant in his 20s says the water was cold, but refreshing. He says the ritual is an important event for men in the community and taking part in it made a man of him.
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Summary
27 men participated in the "Kan no Mizu" ritual in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, on the coldest day of the year. They walked to Kumano Shrine, drawing water from wooden tubs along the way, then dedicated straw crowns and prayed for good health and a bountiful harvest. The event was held normally after
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ID: ff0d4199-0eab-4260-8081-619e776c6172
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240121_15/
Date: Jan. 21, 2024
Created: 2024/01/22 06:30
Updated: 2025/12/08 18:39
Last Read: 2024/01/22 07:49