Omizutori（The Shunie Ceremony）
We are waiting for the start of Omizutori (the Shunie Ceremony), watching the beautiful sunset over Ikoma Mountain.
At Todai-ji Nigatsudo, the “Omizutori” (Shunie Ceremony) is held every year in early March. This tradition, which began in 752, has continued uninterrupted to the present day. Despite several major disasters in the long history of Todai-ji, including fires and invasions, the ceremony has persisted.
Officially known as “Shunie,” the main purpose of Omizutori is for selected monks of Todai-ji Temple, called the “Rengyo-shu (selected monks),” to repent for the sins of the past year on behalf of the people and to pray for peace and prosperity in the coming year. The ceremony is named “Omizutori” because of the event on the night of March 12, during which sacred water (okozui) is drawn to offer to the main deity.
The Omizutori ceremony also includes the ritual of “Otaimatsu,” where large torches are lit. The term “Otaimatsu” refers to these torches, which illuminate the path for the Rengyo-shu as they ascend to Nigatsudo. Afterward, the torches are carried through the corridors, and sparks from them fall onto the spectators. It is believed that being showered with these sparks brings protection from misfortune and ensures good health.
Omizutori is also said to signal the arrival of spring in Nara.
As it gets darker, we wait for the start of Omizutori.
The ceremony for today has ended.
Nara Rurie
- Nara Rurie 2024: February 8–14
Illumination of Todai-ji Daibutsuden Hall
At night, the Daibutsuden Hall was open to the public free of charge.
On this special night, visitors were granted access through the normally closed central gate.
Southern Great Gate’s Agyo
The mouth of Agyo (one of the two guardian statues) is shaped as if pronouncing the vowel sound ‘a.’ This ‘a’ symbolizes the beginning of things.
On this day, the statues were specially illuminated, making their usually hard-to-see faces clearly visible.
Southern Great Gate’s Ungyo
The mouth of Ungyo (the other guardian statue) is shaped as if pronouncing the sound ‘un.’ This ‘un’ symbolizes the end of things. The statue was created by the sculptors Unkei and Kaikei during the early Kamakura period (about 800 years ago).
Entrance to Kasuga Taisha Shrine’s approach
The second torii gate at Kasuga Taisha Shrine
The stone lanterns were lit.
Entrance to the main hall of Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Images were projected onto the National Treasure Hall’s wall.
Approach path to Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Beside the approach path to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, there were displays introducing the story of the shrine’s chief deity, Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto.
Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto descended to Inasa Beach in Izumo (in present-day Shimane Prefecture), where he drove his sword into the coastal sand and sat upon it cross-legged. There, he confronted Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, demanding that he hand over the land to the deities.
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Riding on the back of a white deer, Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto was just about to depart from Kashima Taisha Shrine for Nara.
- 2020 Nara Rurie (just before the COVID-19 pandemic)
This year, the main venue was the Nara Kasugano International Forum I・RA・KA, an international convention facility located within Nara Park.
As the name ‘Rurie’ suggests, the illumination featured a beautiful array of lights centered around a sapphire blue color.
Here, next to the Second Torii Gate of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a lion dance performance could be seen.
Tokae Festival
It is held annually from around August 5 to 14.
Next to Sarusawa Pond
Ukimido Pavilion and the pond
Ukimido Pavilion and the pond
Ukimido Pavilion
On the north side of Ukimido Pavilion
Next to the Todai-ji Temple approach
Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri (Kasuga Wakamiya Shrine Festival)
Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri
The “Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri” is a festival dedicated to Wakamiya, a sub-shrine of Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
It began in 1136 during the Heian period and has continued uninterrupted for nearly 900 years. This significant event is held to pray for abundant harvests and peace. The festival spans four days, with the main event, the “Senko no Gi” (Sacred Procession), taking place on December 17.
During this ritual, the deity of Wakamiya (the child deity of Kasuga Taisha) is temporarily moved to a provisional shrine (Otabisho).
The highlight of the festival is the “Owatari-shiki” procession, where participants dressed in traditional costumes parade through the streets of Nara, offering a glimpse into the history and culture of the time. Traditional performing arts such as Gagaku and Bugaku are also presented, making it a vibrant and culturally rich event.
Beloved by locals, this festival is a symbol of winter in Nara and attracts many visitors each year.
I invite you to explore the Owatari-shiki procession through photos.
Nandaimon Kyomyo no Gi
This ritual takes place south of the Five-Story Pagoda at Kofukuji Temple, the original site of Kofukuji’s Nandaimon (Southern Gate).
Originally, the On-Matsuri was hosted by Kofukuji Temple. To honor this history and show respect to Kofukuji, as well as for the temple to ensure the festival was conducted properly, this ritual was performed.
During the procession, participants stopped at this location and, following traditional etiquette, proudly announced their names in a loud voice.
Emperor Shomu Festival
May 2 marks the day when Emperor Shomu passed away.
In 743, during the Nara period, Emperor Shomu issued the decree to construct the Great Buddha.
Nine years later, in 752, the eye-opening ceremony for the Great Buddha was held.
Many of Emperor Shomu’s personal belongings are preserved in the Shosoin.
Todai-ji Great Southern Gate
Todai-ji Main Temple Complex (Todai-ji Honbo)
On this day, the general public was also allowed to enter.
Buddhist memorial ceremony
Buddhist memorial ceremony
At the pond in front of the Great Buddha Hall, a kagura (sacred dance) was performed.
Manju Festival (Rin Shrine)
Kango Shrine
Kango Shrine is located about 50 meters south of Kintetsu Nara Station. Rin Shrine is situated to the right of Kango Shrine.
Manju is a sweet, steamed bun.
The “Manju Festival” at Rin Shrine is held annually on April 19. Confectionery vendors from across the country offer their special sweets in front of the shrine.
In the tourism magazine Inori no Kairo, published by the Nara Prefecture Tourism Bureau, there was an interesting article about the priest of Kango Shrine and Rin Shrine. Here’s a summary of the article:
In the early Muromachi period (about 800 years ago), a Zen monk from Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto traveled to China for religious training. There, he met a local youth named Rin Join, who admired the monk as his teacher and decided to follow him back to Japan. While the monk returned to Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto, Rin Join settled near Kango Shrine in Nara.
When Rin Join visited his teacher in Kyoto, he brought gifts. Initially, he thought of bringing mantou, a staple food in China made of steamed wheat dough with meat filling. However, since meat-filled buns were not suitable for the temple, he made a type of manju (sweet, steamed bun) filled with red bean paste instead. This new bun was well received and gained popularity.
Originally enjoyed only by the upper class, manju spread to the common people during the Edo period. Particularly in the Genroku era (1680–1709), when many pilgrims gathered in Nara for the restoration of the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple, manju became widely known across Japan. It is said that there were about 25 manju shops in Nara at that time, and manju became a popular souvenir from Nara during the Edo period.
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