Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese people celebrated the first day of 2023 under the sign of the Water Rabbit at the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine in Central Tokyo.

In Shintô astrology, signs of the zodiac are borrowed from the Chinese horoscope and the rabbit is the symbol of the messengers of the gods because it lives in the mountains. For Buddhists, it is the lunar symbol of devotion; Buddhist legend says that a rabbit once threw itself into a fire so that a hungry hermit could eat.

According to Chinese beliefs – imported into Japan more than 1,000 years ago – the water rabbit appears every 60 years and is the symbol of patience and immobility during storms.

For Chinese astrologers, the year 2023 under the sign of the water rabbit will bring peace and prosperity.

After offering prayers in front of the altar at Meiji Jingu Shrine, many people bought amulets and protective charms for a safe and prosperous year, for success in examinations and healing for family members affected by illnesses.