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Jan 07 2022 8 Comments

Japanese New Year tradition and toil

Visiting a shrine on New Year’s Day is an important part of the holidays for many Japanese — the impetus seemingly a mixture of tradition, superstition, and belief, with the importance or otherwise of each element dependent upon the individual.

What the driving force was for the old fella below is anybody’s guess, but whatever it was, age, limited movement and ice underfoot were not a deterrent.

Japanese New Year tradition and toil

Japanese New Year tradition and toil

Japanese New Year tradition and toil

Categorized: Photography, Religion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Richard says

    1/7/2022 at 9:42 am

    The banners are great! Happy and healthy new year to all….

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/7/2022 at 8:26 pm

      Yeah, they really are. Simple but very striking. Hopefully the visit will be beneficial to the old fella.

      Reply
  2. john says

    1/7/2022 at 10:17 am

    Perhaps also the impetus of the alternative as a driving factor?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/7/2022 at 8:33 pm

      Ah, that’s such a good point.

      Reply
  3. ellen says

    1/7/2022 at 10:57 am

    I truly admire his commitment. He looks so small under the banners…

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/7/2022 at 8:35 pm

      Yeah, definitely. It was such an effort for him. Hard to watch, but also inspiring. He was not going to be defeated.

      Reply
      • Richard says

        1/7/2022 at 8:55 pm

        Going to the shrine on New Years must be something that he has done for many, many years. KUDOS to him!

        Reply
        • Lee says

          1/8/2022 at 9:14 am

          Yeah, definitely. Entirely possible he’s been going to this one his whole life too. Another reason for him to make such a huge effort.

          Reply

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