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Water-splashing ritual in northern Japan

A man is splashed with cold water by another man in a nearly two-century-old ritual to pray for rich fishing and harvests, at Samegawa shrine in Kikonai in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2023.

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Water-splashing ritual in northern Japan

A man is splashed with cold water by another man in a nearly two-century-old ritual to pray for rich fishing and harvests, at Samegawa shrine in Kikonai in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2023.

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Railroading work for new bullet train line completed

HAKODATE, Japan - A railway construction vehicle runs as part of a ceremony held at a station in Kikonai on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Nov. 1, 2014, making the completion of railroading work for the 149-km Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto stations.

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Shinto ritual in snow

HAKODATE, Japan - A nearly naked man is splashed with cold water by another man in the snow during a 180-year-old Shinto ritual for bumper fish and farm crops at a shrine in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, in northern Japan, on the night of Jan. 14, 2012.

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Shinto ritual in snow

HAKODATE, Japan - An almost naked young man is splashed with cold water by another young man in the snow during a 180-year-old Shinto ritual for bumper fish and farm crops at a shrine in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, in northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2011.

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Water-splashing festival held at Hokkaido shrine

SAPPORO, Japan - A young man, kneeling on the snowy ground and wearing a loincloth, is splashed with water with two others standing beside him during a Shinto festival to pray for a good catch of fish and good harvest at Samegawa Shrine in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, on the night of Jan. 13. The three men and a fourth, throwing the water (not pictured), all aged between 19 and 21, participated in the ''kanchu misogi'' (purification in the cold) festival, which dates back to 1831, in temperatures of almost zero.

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Shinto ritual in northern Japan

Men splash cold water over each other during a Shinto ritual dating back to the 1830s to pray for rich catches of fish and harvests, at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2022.

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Shinto ritual in northern Japan

Men splash cold water over each other during a Shinto ritual dating back to the 1830s to pray for rich catches of fish and harvests, at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2022.

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Purification ceremony for good harvest

HAKODATE, Japan ? Young men purify hemselves with cold water to pray for good harvest at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai town, Hokkaido, on Jan. 13, 2005. (Kyodo)

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Hokkaido Shinkansen Line opens for travel

People wave fishermen's flags to express welcome to the first shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, on March 26, 2016, the opening day of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line directly linking Japan's northernmost island Hokkaido with the capital. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hokkaido Shinkansen Line opens for travel

People wave fishermen's flags to express welcome to a traveling shinkansen bullet train in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, on March 26, 2016, the opening day of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line directly linking Japan's northernmost island Hokkaido with Tokyo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hokkaido Shinkansen Line opens for travel

Photo shows a shinkansen bullet train running like the wind in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, on March 26, 2016, the opening day of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line directly linking Japan's northernmost island Hokkaido with Tokyo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Anchor possibly of Japan's first corvette displayed in Hokkaido town

An anchor thought to have been used by the Kairin Maru, Japan's first sail and crew-driven corvette, is on display at a museum in Kikonai in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on April 22, 2015. The Kanrin Maru became the first ship to cross the Pacific with a Japanese pilot in 1860. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Monument of Japan's first corvette on display in Hokkaido town

A monument of the Kanrin Maru, Japan's first sail and crew-driven corvette, is on display in Kikonai in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on April 22, 2015. The Kanrin Maru became the first ship to cross the Pacific with a Japanese pilot in 1860. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hokkaido Shinkansen to be launched in March

Photo taken Jan. 1, 2016, shows a Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train making a test run in Japan's northern town of Kikonai, Hokkaido. The bullet train will be launched on March 26 to connect the northern city of Hakodate and Tokyo in as little as four hours and two minutes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Water-splashing festival held at Hokkaido shrine

SAPPORO, Japan - A young man, kneeling on the snowy ground and wearing a loincloth, is splashed with water with two others standing beside him during a Shinto festival to pray for a good catch of fish and good harvest at Samegawa Shrine in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, on the night of Jan. 13. The three men and a fourth, throwing the water (not pictured), all aged between 19 and 21, participated in the ''kanchu misogi'' (purification in the cold) festival, which dates back to 1831, in temperatures of almost zero. (Kyodo)

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Shinto ritual in snow

HAKODATE, Japan - An almost naked young man is splashed with cold water by another young man in the snow during a 180-year-old Shinto ritual for bumper fish and farm crops at a shrine in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, in northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2011. (Kyodo)

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Shinto ritual in snow

HAKODATE, Japan - A nearly naked man is splashed with cold water by another man in the snow during a 180-year-old Shinto ritual for bumper fish and farm crops at a shrine in the town of Kikonai, Hokkaido, in northern Japan, on the night of Jan. 14, 2012. (Kyodo)

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Purification ritual in Hokkaido

Men throw cold water at each other to purify themselves in nearly 2 centuries-old ritual at Samegawa shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on the night of Jan. 14, 2021.

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Purification ritual in Hokkaido

Men throw cold water at each other to purify themselves in nearly 2 centuries-old ritual at Samegawa shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on the night of Jan. 14, 2021.

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Shinto ritual in northern Japan

Four young men splash cold water over each other during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for rich catches of fish and harvests, at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in northern Japan

Four young men splash cold water over each other during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for rich catches of fish and harvests, at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in snow

Four young men splash cold water over each other in snow during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for bumper fish catches and harvests, at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in snow

Four young men splash cold water over each other in snow during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for bumper fish catches and harvests, at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in snow

Four nearly naked men aged 15 to 25 splash cold water over each other in temperatures of minus 5 C and snow during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for bumper fish and farm crops, at a shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in snow

Four nearly naked men aged 15 to 25 splash cold water over each other in temperatures of minus 5 C and snow during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for bumper fish and farm crops, at a shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo