Water-splashing festival held at Hokkaido shrine

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.

"Kanchu Misogi" ritual at Tokyo shrine

"Kanchu Misogi" ritual at Tokyo shrine

People bathe in ice water at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 10, 2016, during the annual "Kanchu Misogi" winter purification ritual to pray for good health and safe family life in the new year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Water-splashing festival held at Hokkaido shrine

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)

Aftermath of torrential rain in southwestern Japan

Aftermath of torrential rain in southwestern Japan

Photo taken July 13, 2020, shows the collapsed Misogi bridge to the Aoi Aso shrine, a national treasure, in the flood-hit city of Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, following torrential rain that hit the southwestern Japan region of Kyushu earlier in the month.

Aftermath of torrential rain in southwestern Japan

Aftermath of torrential rain in southwestern Japan

Photo taken July 9, 2020, shows the collapsed Misogi bridge to the Aoi Aso shrine, a national treasure, in the flood-hit city of Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, following torrential rain that hit the southwestern Japan region of Kyushu earlier in the month.