Happy Accident at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan

Feb 11, 2012 was National Day in Japan but I was unaware of that fact until I arrived at the Meiji Jingumae (Shrine) in Tokyo around 11 AM local time. It turned out to be a happy accident and a very special day for me as this kind of event was something I had wanted to witness for more than 20 years after seeing it in a National Geographic magazine.

Getting off the Tokyo's central circular Yamanote Line at the Harajuku stop, I was met with a throng of Japanese revelers who had come to the celebration.  Upon my arrival I walked up to the entrance of the Meiji Shrine where the revelers were carrying numerous shrines on their shoulders

Japan National Day was started by the Meiji Emperors in 1873 following the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate reign (and Edo Period) and was a huge National celebration in years up to 1945 following the surrender of Japan after the second world war.  It was, however, restarted in the 1950's and continues to this day. The Meiji Emperors were responsible for creation of Modern Japan from a state of Feudal Japanese style rule. So the Emperors were venerated for this reason.

Japanese Revelers carrying a special Shrine to the Central Meiji Shrine

One of the features of the Meiji period was that Japan's Early spiritual practice called Shintoism, was elevated to the state of a "National Religion" even though it is not a religion as Westerners know that term but more a celebration of life through veneration of "Kami" or divine spirits. Shinto has more in common with North American Native Spiritual practice of veneration of nature than any specific God centric religion like Christianity. On the Shrines the essential symbol marking an entrance to a Shinto Sacred site is the "Torii" which is well known in Japan and around the world. The picture below shows the entrance Torii to the Meiji Shrine area and the wood is made from trees 1,700 years old. Japanese craftsmen particularly venerate the Cryptomeria (Cedar) species as the most sacred of woods and it was and is used in Temple Construction. If you look closely on the shrine above you will see "torii" on the temple platform at all four entrances to the portable shrine.



Meiji Shrine "Torii" at the entrance where Shrines were carried in

The mood was very festive in carrying the shrines toward the Meiji Shrine building and you can see from the video below that it is a major event with both men and women carrying the shrines to the sounds of "Isa, Isa, Isa!"


As the shrines enter the main court area of the Meiji shrine building, they are welcomed as they come through the gates by a group of greeter officials standing at the main entrance to the building. 

In the main court were some traditional Japanese Drummers performing their craft with great excitement.

Japanese Drummers put on quite a show

 New born babies come to the Meiji shrine to be blessed.  The drumming was powerful and there were many types of drums along the way including this massive drum shown in the picture below.

Massive Drum being beaten just outside the entry gates to the shrine

The main shrine area was not that big for an Imperial shrine compared to what you would see in China, but its intimacy and personal nature was quite appealing. The woodcraft was just beautiful in its simplicity and the attention to detail was what you would expect from such craftsmanship. The Entrance gate is shown in the picture below and some details of the surrounding gate.



Meiji Shrine main Court with revelers entering to watch the Shrines come in

Some deail of the surrounding woodwork is shown below.

Some wood detail of the surrounding courtyard area

It was a memorable day and one I will not soon forget. Sometimes life hands you a wonderful day and your job is to just enjoy the dance.

Peter