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Year-end ritual at Nachi Falls

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, Dec. 27 Kyodo - Priests from Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a giant sacred "shimenawa" rope with a new one above Nachi Falls during a year-end ritual in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2025. (Kyodo)

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Year-end ritual at Nachi Falls

Priests from Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a giant sacred "shimenawa" rope with a new one above Nachi Falls during a year-end ritual in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2025.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope replaced at western Japan waterfall

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, July 11 Kyodo - Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2025, ahead of a festival at the nearby shrine, a World Heritage site. (Kyodo)

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Sacred rope replaced at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2025, ahead of a festival at the nearby shrine, a World Heritage site.

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Sacred rope replaced at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2025, ahead of a festival at the nearby shrine, a World Heritage site.

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Rope ritual at Japan shrine

KUMANO, Japan, Oct. 4 Kyodo - People carry a 170-meter-long sacred rope that hangs from a giant rock during the Otsunakake Shinji ritual at Hananoiwaya shrine in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Oct. 2, 2023. (Kyodo)

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Sacred rope replace at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2024, ahead of a festival.(Kyodo)

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Sacred rope replace at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2024, ahead of a festival.

E

Sacred rope replace at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2024, ahead of a festival.

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Aftermath of strong quake in central Japan

Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024, shows a sacred straw rope hung as a New Year's decoration on a house that has collapsed in Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture, following a strong earthquake that jolted the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas in central Japan on Jan. 1.

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Sacred rope exchange at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred straw rope with a new one ahead of the New Year at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2023.

E

Sacred rope exchange at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred straw rope with a new one ahead of the New Year at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2023.

E

Rope ritual at Japan shrine

People carry a 170-meter-long sacred rope that hangs from a giant rock during the Otsunakake Shinji ritual at Hananoiwaya shrine in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Oct. 2, 2023.

E

Rope ritual at Japan shrine

People carry a 170-meter-long sacred rope that hangs from a giant rock during the Otsunakake Shinji ritual at Hananoiwaya shrine in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Oct. 2, 2023.

E

Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2023, in preparation for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

E

Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2023, in preparation for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Rope changing ritual at Japan shrine

Otsunakake Shinji, a ritual of changing the sacred straw rope that hangs from the rock, is performed at World Heritage-listed Hananoiwaya Shrine in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 2, 2023.

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Comic character effigy gets New Year sacred rope

YONAGO, Japan - Workers put a sacred Shinto rope of rice straw around the neck of a huge stone figure of the "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic character as a customary New Year decoration in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2014. The western Japan city is the birthplace of comic author Shigeru Mizuki.

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Fire dance ritual in Akita Pref.

SEMBOKU, Japan - A child swings a sack of burning coals tied to a rope during a traditional agricultural fertility ritual called the ''Hifuri Kamakura'' in Semboku, Akita Prefecture in northeastern Japan, on Feb. 13, 2011. The sacred fire is believed to drive out bad luck from the rice fields while people also wish for the good health and safety of their families at the event.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Priests of World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2021, ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Priests of World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2021, ahead of the New Year.

E

Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Priests of World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2021, ahead of the New Year.

E

Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shrine priests dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2021. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

E

Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shrine priests dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2021. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Shinto rope over Nachi Waterfall

SHINGU, Japan - Shinto priests set up a ''shimenawa'' sacred rope at the top of the Nachi Waterfall in the town of Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, on Oct. 19, 2011. The 133-meter-tall fall is maintained as a sacred site by the Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine and its rope is usually renewed twice a year in July and December, but the previous rope was swept away in early September when the area was hit by flooding triggered by Typhoon Talas, leading to the day's operation. (Kyodo)

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Fire dance ritual in Akita Pref.

SEMBOKU, Japan - A child swings a sack of burning coals tied to a rope during a traditional agricultural fertility ritual called the ''Hifuri Kamakura'' in Semboku, Akita Prefecture in northeastern Japan, on Feb. 13, 2011. The sacred fire is believed to drive out bad luck from the rice fields while people also wish for the good health and safety of their families at the event. (Kyodo)

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Comic character effigy gets New Year sacred rope

YONAGO, Japan - Workers put a sacred Shinto rope of rice straw around the neck of a huge stone figure of the "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic character as a customary New Year decoration in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2014. The western Japan city is the birthplace of comic author Shigeru Mizuki. (Kyodo)

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests dressed in traditional costumes take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 13, 2020. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

E

Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests dressed in traditional costumes take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 13, 2020. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.