The «Okihiki» event, where citizens transport lumber for the Ise Grand Shrine’s «Shikinen Sengu» ceremony, was held.
The «Shikinen Sengu» is a ceremony held once every 20 years to completely rebuild the shrine’s halls and relocate the sacred object; the next one is scheduled for 2033, seven years from now.
On the 12th, the «Okihiki» event to transport lumber for the «Shikinen Sengu» took place, with 3,000 citizens participating, dressed in matching attire.
Participants chanted spirited calls of «Enya!» as they transported ten cypress logs from the Isuzu River toward the Inner Shrine (Naiku) of Ise Grand Shrine.
Afterward, the cypress logs that entered the Inner Shrine received a purification ritual and were successfully dedicated.
The Okihiki event will also be held on the 13th, with lumber scheduled to be transported to the Outer Shrine (Geku).
Ise Grand Shrine
The Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū) is Japan’s most sacred Shinto site, dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess and mythical ancestor of the Imperial family. Its unique tradition involves the complete, ritual rebuilding of its main wooden structures every 20 years, a practice dating back to the 7th century, symbolizing renewal and the impermanence of all things.
Shikinen Sengu
Shikinen Sengu is the sacred ritual of rebuilding and renewing the Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine), the most important Shinto shrine in Japan, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. This ceremony has been carried out approximately every 20 years for over 1,300 years, symbolizing the cyclical renewal of life, nature, and tradition. The most recent renewal was completed in 2013, with the next scheduled for 2033.
Inner Shrine (Naiku)
The Inner Shrine (Naiku) is the primary sanctuary of Ise Jingu, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu-Ōmikami, the sun goddess and mythical ancestor of the Imperial family. It is traditionally believed to have been established over 2,000 years ago, and its central wooden structures are ritually rebuilt every 20 years in a ceremony called Shikinen Sengū, preserving ancient architectural techniques and spiritual purity.
Outer Shrine (Geku)
The Outer Shrine (Geku) is one of the two primary shrines at Ise Jingu, Japan’s most sacred Shinto site. It was established in the 5th century to enshrine Toyouke Omikami, the deity of food, clothing, and housing, who provides for the sun goddess Amaterasu enshrined at the Inner Shrine (Naiku). Like the Inner Shrine, its buildings are rebuilt every 20 years in the Shikinen Sengu ceremony, a tradition maintaining ancient architectural techniques and spiritual purity.
Isuzu River
The Isuzu River is a sacred river in Japan, flowing through Ise City in Mie Prefecture. It is most famous for running through the grounds of the Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū), Japan’s most important Shinto shrine, where its waters are used for ritual purification. For over a thousand years, pilgrims have purified themselves in its waters before visiting the shrine, making the river an integral part of the site’s spiritual history.
Uren Dam
The Uren Dam is a small, historic dam located in the village of Uren in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia. It was constructed in the early 20th century, around 1909, primarily to power a local flax-processing mill, representing a period of early industrial development in the rural region. Today, it remains a modest but notable local landmark and a relic of pre-revolutionary Russian engineering.
Toyokawa Irrigation Canal
The Toyokawa Irrigation Canal is a historic waterway in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, constructed between 1927 and 1938. It was a major civil engineering project designed to provide a stable water supply for agriculture and industry to the fertile but drought-prone Toyokawa Plain. Today, it remains a vital infrastructure supporting the region’s economy and is recognized for its historical and technological significance.
Oshima Dam
The Oshima Dam is a concrete gravity dam located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, completed in 1961 primarily for flood control and irrigation purposes. It was constructed on the Tone River system, Japan’s longest river, to help manage water resources and protect downstream areas from seasonal flooding. The dam and its reservoir have since become a part of the local infrastructure and landscape.
