Yamato People

photo by photolibrary I don't know if this sample is real or not but just want to introduce design of Japanese family crests, Kamon. Kamon are Japanese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. There are countless Kamon in Japan. Most Japanese graves have curved Kamon like this . But Kamon is not so important in memorial healing ritual for ancestor. ⇒ Butsudan / How to do / Japanese daily ritual Also, some big shrines and temples have own crests like Kamon. It is called Shin-mon (for Shinto shrine) or Ji-mon (for Buddhism temple). You can find crests all over Japan. photo by photolibrary photo by photolibrary photo by photolibrary photo by photolibrary photo by photolibrary photo by photolibrary Kamon are look like Nerikiri , Wagasgi (traditional Japanese sweets). Japanese really like small cute things. ...

Crane and Turtle / Core concept of Japan / Amatsu and Kunitsu

photolibrary Crane and Turtle. The combination is called "Tsuru-Kame" and known as a good luck symbol. Because one couple of crane love each other for a long time, and turtles live long. So, many Japanese buy Tsuru-kame gift for a happy event like a grandparents day or wedding.( Photos ) There are other important, secret hints in the sign. These are very core of Japan. Tsuru-Kame represents two opposite things that create new in the future. Yin and yang / Wife and husband / Japanese and Jewish / Settlement and Wandering / Worship and money economy Further more, Jewish are roughly divided into two groups. One group is for true worship. This group helped and protected Japan after WW2. ⇒ Japan and Douglas MacArthur / 1945 / Shinto The other group is for economic/war business. Many fake Jewish, Jewish traitors and being deceived Jewish in the group. It is a very complicated situation for people in Israel. Japan has almost the same nightmare. Many n...

Positional relation and direction / Kamidana and Butsudan / Tokonoma Japanese traditional room

wikipedia The exhibition space in Japanese traditional guest room is called Tokonoma . (Left side one step higher place with a hanging scroll and flowers) Generally speaking,a room of Tokonoma is in north side of a house. Tokonoma is best place to install Kamidana(Nature worship table) and Bursudan(Ancestor worship table) . Because the room is always clean and silent. Photos / Kamidana and Butsudan in Tokonoma Kamidana example. Kamidana example. My Kamidana in US. My Kamidana is simple but very effective. Many people put extra things on Kamidana. To invite nature gods of your neighborhood,please do not put extra things. Because they can't visit there. One water bowl in the middle and a pair of plants are enough. These means one forest. Plus,if you in Japan,please get Ofuda at the nearest Shinto shrine from your house. About Ofuda(Condensed energy of Shrine,made of paper) Butsudan example. Butsudan example. There is a K...

Gion festival in Kyoto / Hebrew culture and Ark of the covenant / History of Moses

photolibrary Gion Matsuri of Kyoto is one of the biggest festival in Japan. This year, it is called off due to Covid-19. Gion Matsuri is a ritual of Yasaka Jinjya shrine of Shinto/Nature worship that have been held for 1,100 years. There are many same name shrines all over Japan but original Yasaka shrine is Kyoto's. YA-SAKA means like "Worship" or "Seeing God" in old Hebrew or Aramatic language. photolibrary Yasaka shrine, Kyoto. God who protects this area is young Susanoo. ( Gozu Tannoh / Cow head king of strictness ) The Gion matsuri takes place for whole of July. The highlight is "Yamahoko Junko" held on 17 July. It is called a moving museum. photolibrary Above gorgeous vehicles are called hoko, dashi or hikiyama and so on. These all things are sort of Mikoshi.↓ wikipedia In summer or early autumn, many big shinto shrines perform each festival with Mikoshi. Mikoshi was derived from the ...

Butsudan / How to do / Japanese important daily ritual for ancestors

I would like to share Japanese style "effective and correct way" of ritual in Ancestor worship. This is a kind of white magic. There are many rules but basically, you just give three incenses everyday. Please save your ancestors. Their only chance depends on you. They have been waiting for your correct memorial service. Just thinking about your ancestors or visiting grave are not radical solution for them. Some ancestors do not rest in peace because of some reasons. Every family has troubled ancestors. To understand the truth, you need to know after life world called Anoyo. There are some levels in the after life world. ⇒ After life / 5 worlds / Integration plan If you leave suffering ancestors in severe places, that will influence on you and your descendant because your body came from all your ancestors. Ancestors are invisible now but your body's cells and DNA are still active. That means your dead ancestors aren't extinct. Their...

Japanese women shaman Miko / Hair and Yorishiro / Spiritual possession

Miko are young workers in Japanese shrines.(18 - 30 years old) They have lots of things to do. Cleaning,Reception,Preparation for Shinto ceremonies,Dance performance for ceremony, Making guide brochures,Amulets and gifts for guests...etc. Important thing is their hair. They have long,original black color hair to catch nature god's divinity. Hair become a perch tree for gods. This is called YORISHIRO phenomenon and it is very important Shinto concept. Japanese language is really interesting. There are many words that have same sounds. 髪 Ka→mi↘ (Hair) 神 Ka↗mi (God or Gods) Pronunciations are different but these words have a strong similarity. I'd say Yorishiro phenomenon is a kind of temporary possession by invisible spirits(Both good or bad). Of course your body is also Yorishiro. Any things what have shape become a visiting place for We need to take care of hair very well. Many good or bad spirits approach ou...

Mount Moriya in Nagano, Japan / Holy Bible / Moriah hill of Jerusalem

Sacred Mount Moriya in Nagano, Japan. There are one of the oldest Shinto shrines around this mountain. Suwa Taisha shrine is composed of 4 shrines group. 4 shrines are divided into 2 groups. M = Mount Moriya AB = Shimosha group = Harumiya and Akimiya shrine CD = Kamisha group = Honmiya and Maemiya shrine ABCD = Whole Suwa Taisha Suwa Taisha have been protected by Moriya family line. 守矢(Moriya = Protects Arrow) Their ancestors were Mononobe family. They were most important priest position in imperial court. Mononobe family's root was priest who knows spiritual, practical techniques of old Judaism. And more ancient story, Mononobe's root was Nigiyahahi. He was first emperor Jimmu's loyal subordinate. In Japan, all shrines protect hidden secret nature place. It is called Goshin-tai.(God itself or God's place) So, shrine architecture is not real god place. True god exists behind or near a shrine. In case of Suwa Taisha, Gos...

Small shrines in Japan / Hokora / Shinto concept

photolibrary That small shrine is called HOKORA . Hokora are smaller than regular Shinto shrines. Large Jingu/Jinjya/Yashiro > Hokora > Smallest shrine Kamidana in each house Some ancient Hokora shrines are older than any other shrines. I think there are similar things in local worship of south east countries. photolibrary photo by photolibrary Local people often visit Hokora and "take care of it". Cleaning,changing water and dedicating thankful heart to nature fairy gods in there. photolibrary photolibrary photo from wikipedia In Japan,there are so many places to worship nature gods. People are protected by nature worship includes ancestor worship. (Nature worship and ancestor worship are one because human is part of nature) Top of shrine is the Grand shrine of ISE .(Mie prefecture) It protects whole Japan and the Earth. There are two main worship places in the Grand shrine of IS...

Okinawan folk song / Endless love of mother / Warabigami

photolibrary Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture.(Tropics) Okinawa still has original style of Japanese Shinto. The Shinto is called Ryu-kyu-Shinto . In Ryu-kyu-Shinto,woman is main priest of nature worship. I would like to share Okinawan beautiful folk song,Warabigami. This song is famous mother's song and it represents merciful mother like yours. I think this is quintessentially Japan-ish. This song is sung with Okinawan dialect. I do love the song and always cry. Warabigami (Child of God) Song/Lyrics Misako Kojya Compose/Piano Kazuya Sahara (Misako's husband) Tin kara no migumi Ukiti kono shike ni Nmaritaru nashiguwa Wami nu mui sudati Irayo-hei irayo-hoi Irayo kanashi umi nashiguwa Nakunayo ya heiyo heiyo Tida nu hikari ukiti Yuuiriyo ya heiyo heiyo Masasa ati tabori Nachi nu shichi kuriba Shida kaji u yukuti Fuyu nu shichi kuriba Fuchukuru ni dachoti Iyayo-hei iyayo-hoi Irayo kanas...

Amazake / Japanese rice drink / My Sake-kasu recipe

Amazake This white drink is made from sake lees. (sake-kasu/fermented rice lees) Amazake has alcohol flavor but children are able to drink if it isn't too much. photo by wikipedia This is sake lees blocks. $5～7 at Japanese super market, Mitsuwa. My Amazake is sake lees style. There is the other type of Amazake "Rice Kouji Amazake"(Made from Rice malt) No alcohol flavor, totally different taste. It takes a long time to cook.↓ Originally, rice Kouji Amazake was cold drink for hot summer. It relieves summer heat fatigue because it has much nutrition. Rice Kouji Amazake is very sweet without sugar. You can buy it at small Japanese super market like Sunrise Mart . Maybe it is healthier than Sake lees Amazake. But Sake lees Amazake is popular in Japan because it is easy to make. I used to drink Sake lees Amazake after New Year worship at Shinto shrine. Served Amazake was very hot and warmed freezing me...