Those white zigzag-shaped paper are called SHIDE.
In Shinto(Nature worship),SHIDE is important item.
The paper means power of thunder and lightning,and has strong purify power.
You can find SHIDE in all Japanese shrines,even in the traditional stage costume of strongest sumo wrestler.(Yokoduna)
To tell the truth,Sumo wrestling is Shinto ritual not a sport.
Shide plus wood stick is called Oonusa,Nusa,or Harae-gushi.
Ritual for driving safety.(Temporary purification for the car)
Originally,ancient people used hemp fiber.
There was almost same item in Ainu culture.(INAU)
Ainu people were one of the origin of Japanese.
Dichinsai/Jichinsai is a Shinto ceremony for land.
Japanese people do the ceremony before house/facility/building constructions.
Householder and builders attend the ceremony with Shinto priest.
By performing this ritual,we are able to get permission from Ujigami（local land deity gods)
to use the space.
to use the space.
Making an offering to nature gods.
Dichinsai ceremony is a temporary first greeting for local nature god of land.
So,we need to keep respect mind forever as long as we live in that area.
So,we need to keep respect mind forever as long as we live in that area.
This is a basic concept of Shinto.
We can't live without land.
Land supplies what we need.
There is a famous land anthem in Japan.
I sang the song at graduating ceremony of junior high school.
Shinto concept / Mother Earth and land / Japanese land anthem
Land supplies what we need.
There is a famous land anthem in Japan.
I sang the song at graduating ceremony of junior high school.
Shinto concept / Mother Earth and land / Japanese land anthem