Typically around this time of the year, the Japanese folks are celebrating Setsubun 節分, which is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we will taking a look at the special bean throwing ritual. People try to catch good-luck beans thrown by apprentice geisha during the Setsubun Festival at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto and it is rather special this year because it is done in the freezing snow because Japan is facing heavy snowfall for the past week.

Image Credit: MSN Sankei

For Today’s Japan Photo, we will be visiting Kitano Tenman-guu 北野天満宮, a shinto shrine that is popular with students praying for success in exams.

It was built in 947, to appease the angry spirit of bureaucrat, scholar and poet Sugawara no Michizane. And in 986, the scholar-bureaucrat was deified and the title of Tenjin (Heavenly Deity) was conferred.

Image Credit: David OMalley

For Today’s Japan Photo, we will take a look at the annual cold-endurance ceremony that is held at Kanda Shrine in Tokyo, Japan.

This over over 40 people took part in the ceremony, which is believe that splashing freezing water during the winter season will bring you good fortune for the new year.

While most Japanese folks visit their local shrines and temple to pray for good fortune on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the staff are still kept busy for the entire week because they will be busy counting the generous donations offered by devotees.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we see the generous donations that were donated to Fushimi Inari Shrine, a very popular shrine in Kyoto, Japan. Inari is the god of rice and commerce and since both are very important to Japan, many devotees would visit the shrine to pray for good business fortunes.

Ema (絵馬) was small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. For Today’s Japan Photo, we shall take a look at this very special Oppai Ema that was presented to the World Heritage Jison Shrine 慈尊院 in Wakayama Prefecture.

Of course, this bunch of people holding the Oppai Ema are not simply a bunch of oppai lovers. This unique Ema was created by staff from the nearby hospital and they express their wish for a cure to be found for Breast Cancer and hope that all patients can recover.

Image Credit: Sponichi

During the lunar seventh month, many Chinese like myself in Asia celebrate the Ghost Month and we  pay homage to our deceased ancestors. For the Japanese, they have similar traditions and one of them is called the Mitama Matsuri 御霊まつり – a mid-summer celebration of the spirits of the ancestors that is held at Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社). For Today’s Japan Photo, we will take a look at the beautiful lanterns that are hung along the 40 foot high walls along the entry walk.

Image Credit: Daniel Shi flickr

So many lanterns hung so neatly is really a sight to behold. I wonder what are the fire safety precautions in case one catches on fire ^^

Image Credit: TOKYO VIEWS

This shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu’s son Hidetada was shogun, it was enlarged during the time of the third shogun, Iemitsu. Ieyasu is enshrined here, and his remains are entombed here.

One of the most beautiful structure of the shrine is in fact the Yomeimon Gate 陽明門, which is described as a gate that one could look at until sundown and still not tire of seeing it. The gate has many beautiful carvings and you should check out this photo to see its intricate beauty.

Image Credit: Japan Today

The main feature of Sanno Matsuri is the Jinkosai which is the procession of about 500 people with floats and mikoshi (portable shrines). The procession leaves Hie Shrine at 8 a.m. and goes to Kokuritsu Gekijo (National Theater), Sakashitamon Gate in the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Nihonbashi Hie Shrine, Kyobashi, Ginza, and Shinbashi and returns to Hie Shrine at 5 p.m.

This procession takes place around June 15 every other year (even years). Other than this procession, lots of traditional events are held at Hie Shrine, such as tea ceremonies and Shinto music and dance performances.

Here’s the description of the photo taken from Mainichi Japan as well:

People try to catch good-luck beans thrown by apprentice geisha during the Setsubun Festival at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto on Feb. 2. After performing a dance, the apprentice geisha tossed beans, a Setsubun tradition, while cheering shrine visitors eagerly tried to catch them. The festival, which kicked off the same day, is held in hope of good health and bumper crops. (Mainichi)

Image Credit: 年間行事

The participants would fan a huge bonfire in an attempt to “drive the oni out of their hiding place”. This is said to bring in good fortune ^^