[Breaking News]Winter purification ritual at Tokyo shrine

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 21 Kyodo - A man splashes himself with icy water during a winter purification ritual at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2025. (Kyodo)

Winter purification ritual at Tokyo shrine

Winter purification ritual at Tokyo shrine

A man splashes himself with icy water during a winter purification ritual at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2025.

Winter purification ritual at Tokyo shrine

Winter purification ritual at Tokyo shrine

Men splash themselves with icy water during a winter purification ritual at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2025.

Shinto adapting to era of globalization

Shinto adapting to era of globalization

TOKYO, Japan - Ambassadors to Japan and their family members carry a "mikoshi" portable shrine at Kanda Myojin, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, on Oct. 27, 2012 during a seminar about Shintoism co-hosted by the Association of Shinto Shrines.

Year's first work day in Japan

Year's first work day in Japan

People visit Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo to offer New Year prayers on the first work day of the year for most companies on Jan. 4, 2022.

Year's first work day in Japan

Year's first work day in Japan

People visit Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo to offer New Year prayers on the first work day of the year for most companies on Jan. 4, 2022.

Year's first work day in Japan

Year's first work day in Japan

People visit Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo to offer New Year prayers on the first work day of the year for most companies on Jan. 4, 2022.

A shrine

A shrine

Kanda Myojin Shrine prospered under the protection of the Tokugawa Shogunate as a guardian deity of Edo. Taira Masakado is enshrined here as the Oanamuchi-no-mikoto deity. The shrine moved to its current location (present-day Sotokanda 2-chome) from Surugadai in 1616. It was renamed Kanda Shinto Shrine in 1872. The Kanda Festival, one of the three major festivals in Tokyo, is held here every other year, formerly on September 15, now in May. This is a photograph of a sketch (probably stone print) made by a member of a Prussian expedition.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number55‐27‐2]

Entrance to Kanda Myojin Shrine

Entrance to Kanda Myojin Shrine

Entrance to Kanda Myojin Shrine==Date:Early Meiji, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images)

Kanda Myojin Shrine

Kanda Myojin Shrine

Kanda Myojin Shrine==Date:Early Meiji, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images)

Disco Bon dance at Tokyo shrine

Disco Bon dance at Tokyo shrine

Women across generations and nationalities dance to disco music and Japanese anime songs during a "Bon" midsummer dance festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo on July 20, 2019. The event, called BON DISCO, combines Japan's traditional Bon Odori dance, performed as a Japanese Buddhist custom during the Bon holiday season, with western-born disco. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Disco Bon dance at Tokyo shrine

Disco Bon dance at Tokyo shrine

People across generations and nationalities dance to disco music and Japanese anime songs during a "Bon" midsummer dance festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo on July 20, 2019. The event, called BON DISCO, combines Japan's traditional Bon Odori dance, performed as a Japanese Buddhist custom during the Bon holiday season, with western-born disco. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shrine visit for prosperous new year

Shrine visit for prosperous new year

People crowd Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 4, 2019, the first business day of the year for many companies, to pray for their success in business. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shrine visit for prosperous new year

Shrine visit for prosperous new year

People crowd Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 4, 2019, the first business day of the year for many companies, to pray for their success in business. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Businessmen pray for success at Tokyo shrine

Businessmen pray for success at Tokyo shrine

Businessmen pray for success and fortune before an altar set up at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward on Jan. 4, 2018, the first business day of the year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Businessmen pray for success at Tokyo shrine

Businessmen pray for success at Tokyo shrine

Businessmen pray for success and fortune before an altar set up at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward on Jan. 4, 2018, the first business day of the year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Businessmen visit Tokyo shrine on 1st business day of year

Businessmen visit Tokyo shrine on 1st business day of year

Businessmen crowd the premises of a Tokyo shrine, known as Kanda Myojin, on Jan. 4, 2017, the first business day of the year, to pray for their success in business. A 34-year-old salesman said, "I hope the overall Japanese economy will turn around this year." (Kyodo) ==Kyodo