Samukawa-jinja Shrinemenuclose
With a loud roll of big drums for signaling the incoming of the New Year, the “Happo-yoke Festival” and “New Year’s Day Festival” are held as the first Shinto rituals of the New Year. These prayers for the divine power and virtues of Samukawa-daimyojin are held in the main building.
Celebrating the New Year in prayer for the well-being of the Imperial Family and the nation, as well as for the good health and prosperity of the worshippers. This ceremony will be held in the respective shrines and subsidiary shrines after the ceremony in the main building.
At the beginning of the year, a unique Shinto ritual called “Tuina Shinji” is held in accordance with ancient rituals for driving out evil spirits. After the ritual, bows and arrows offered to kami will be distributed to the worshippers as amulets against disaster.
The origin of the Imperial Throne is celebrated in prayer for the prosperity of the Imperial Family as well as the nation and its citizens.
In the middle of the garden within the precinct, two Shinto priests will alternately release arrows three times to the large target in the ancient style set with bamboo poles. Depending on the spot struck by the arrow, fortune-telling about the coming events of the year will be performed.
Aomori Nebuta used for the Aomori Nebuta Festival (night festival in Aomori) is displayed on the shrine gate to welcome the first worshippers of the New Year. In the New Year season, many visitors come to worship at the shrine as it has been said that passing under the Geishun Nebuta will ward off evil spirits.
On the day before the calendric beginning of spring, Setsubun-sai for warding off impending evil spirits and disasters is held twice a day. Men and women who are born in the year current under the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac will throw “fukumame” (literally, “lucky beans”) up from the specially constructed tower in the garden onto the people gathering for the festival in order to ward off evil spirits.
Kigen-sai is held for celebrating founding of the nation, for the prosperity of the Imperial Family and the nation, and the well-being of the worshippers. Subsequent to the public announcement of the honored people who support and revere Samukawa-jinja Shrine as well as those who rendered distinguished service for the shrine, a ceremony will be held in honor of them in the assembly hall.
Kinen-sai is a prayer held for a successful harvest and industrial development, and remains one of the most important festivals (the other festivals are the Rei-sai and Niiname-sai). This festival is known as the Spring Festival, where a unique Shinto ritual called “Tauchi-mai” is presented before the kami.
This is a celebration of the Emperor’s birthday and includes reverent shrine parishioners praying for the prosperity of the Imperial Family.
In collaboration with Samukawa Sakura nursery school, Kurami nursery school, and Ichinomiya Sowa nursery school, artwork created by about 130 school-aged children (first graders in elementary school) are displayed.
In the spring season in full bloom, just before starting farmwork, “Nensankoin” as a member of “Ko (organization of meeting for spiritual guidance or conducting religious ceremonies), worships Samukawa-daimyojin in appreciation of divine virtues, and prays for further protection.
“Showa no Hi” (Showa Day) is an event that honors the meritorious works of Emperor Showa and offers prayers for the prosperity of the Imperial Family as well as for the citizens of the nation.
Portable shrines from five shrines (Ichi-no-miya (first shrine) Samukawa-jinja Shrine, Ni-no-miya (second shrine) Kawawa, San-no-miya (third shrine) Hibita Shrine, Shi-no-miya (fourth shrine) Sakitori Shrine, and Hiratsuka Hachimangu, all of which are located in Sagami Province) gather at Kamisori-yama where a traditional Shinto ritual is held. [Designated by Kanagawa Prefecture as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property]
Traditional Shinto ritual that allows one to be purified of the impurity and misfortune he/she has gathered during the last six months so that one can reset and clean the body and soul. To do this one passes through the chinowa（large ring of woven reed） in the garden of the shrine three times to directly purify sins and impurities in prayer for sound health.
Hamaori-sai had long been annually held on July 15. However, the date for holding the ritual has been changed to “Umi no Hi (the Ocean Day as a national holiday),” on the third Monday of July. This ritual is held to inform new generations of the date once set for holding Hamaori-sai and includes elements of its historical background.
About 40 portable shrines from Samukawa, Chigasaki district gather at Nango, Chigasaki beach for purification by entering the ocean all together. As the portable shrines are purified with seawater, this ritual is called “Misogi Shinji” (Shinto purification ritual).
[Designated by Kanagawa Prefecture as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property]
Mushiokuri-sai is held for the protection of crops in the fields by warding off crop-eating insects and natural disasters and offers prayers for a rich autumn harvest.
In association with the anniversary of the end of the World War Ⅱ, this ritual was started in the year 1970 in order to pray for everlasting world peace. Before performance of Takigi-noh, the ceremony for the announcement of Sagami Takigi-noh is held.
Rei-sai, the most important Shinto ritual of Samukawa-jinja Shrine is held to give thanks to divine virtues of Samukawa-daimyojin in attendance of many reverent shrine parishioners. On September 19th and 20th, flowers, tea and the like are offered, and performing arts are presented in the precincts for dedication purposes.
Rei-sai held in Massha Mioya-jinja Shrine worshipped as a local tutelary deity of Miyayama as a result of combining small-scale festivals held in seven districts of Miyayama-machi during the Taisho Era. Portable shrine will parade in the neighborhood.
Kanname-sai is the ritual to offer new crops to Amaterasu Omikami as the Imperial ancestor, which is held in the Ise-Jingu Shrine from the night of the 16th until the morning on the 17th of October. In association with the ritual held in Ise-Jingu Shrine, Kanname Hoshuku-sai as the mid-level festival is held for worshipping Ise-jingu Shrine from a distance.
This festival is held for commemorating the important matter of Emperor Meiji’s noble achievements and offers prayers for the prosperity of the Imperial Family and the citizens of the nation.
Approximately 340 pots of chrysanthemum flowers entered from eleven organizations located in Kanagawa prefecture are examined in a careful manner, and the award-winning flowers are determined and exhibited. Photos of various festivals held by Samukawa-jinja Shrine are exhibited as well.
The ages of three, five, and seven are believed to be critical in childrens’ lives. Children of those ages are brought to the shrine for warding off evil spirits through prayer and prayers are offered for their healthy growth and future happiness.
Niiname-sai is held for giving thanks to the kami for a rich harvest by offering newly harvested rice before the altar. This festival is one of the three major festivals, and is also called the “Autumn Festival.” On that day, the festival is performed solemnly with the attendance of many sincere shrine worshippers, and the Shinto priest offers a devotional service in formal costume.
Year-end cleanup ceremony is for cleansing the impurities acquired during the year. After the ceremony, all the buildings including the main building will be thoroughly cleaned, and each Shimenawa (sacred rice-straw rope) within the precincts are replaced with new ones for welcoming the New Year.
A ritual for purification of one’s body and soul by transferring one’s sin and impurities over the last six months to the human effigies made of paper called “hito-gata.” Oharae Shinji is held in the garden of shrine, and following, Oharae Kigan-sai (Great Purification Ceremony) and Joya-sai (New Year’s Eve Festival) are held as the last ceremonies of the year.
1st and 20th days in every month
※ except January 1 and September 20
Tsukinami-sai (Monthly Festival)
A.M. 8:30〜
Festivals that offer prayers for the prosperity of the nation and the sincere worshippers are held on the 1st and the 20th days of every month.
