Storyboard / Shinto & Spirituality
Every year near our house there is a very interesting, if not somewhat bizarre festival ,which takes place at a historic shrine, . This shrine was established in year eighteen of the Jinmu-tennō reign, which began in 660 BCE.
We had the once in a life time opportunity to enter the Imperial Palace Grounds and see the incredible structure assembled for this rare event know as "Daijōsai".
The meaning of this important event is to celebrate the survival of their children, because as we all know historically understand, the mortality rate for young children in most parts of the world was very high. They pray to the Shinto Gods for the continuing healthy growth of their children in the coming years of youth into adulthood.
