Chinowa Kuguri Ceremony

A large ring or Chinowa made of grass is erected on the pathway leading to a shrine.

Worshipers at the shrine pass through the ring as an act of purification from misdeeds, impurities, or bad luck.

Participants pass through the ring reciting a verse invoking long life and avoiding diseases.

Ceremonies of passing through the ring, sacred music and dancing are dedicated to the shrine on the ceremony day.

Hydrangea Flowers and a Dragonfly

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The picture on the left was taken a few weeks ago at Isoyama shrine.



The following picture was taken at the same place ten years ago, June 2005.

Rina, left on the photo, is now a college student was an elementary school kid at that time.

Rina and Kiyono in 2005

I Go to Isoyama Shrine in Kanuma City

We are still in the middle of rainy season.

I picked up a sunny day among this rainy season and headed to Isoyama shrine which had tens of hundreds of hydrangea flowers at its garden.

Those pictures show how I take photos usually.










The shrine was preparing to hold a hydrangea festival.

Though we went there just several days before the festival period, the flowers were in full bloomed.