Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Several thousand pilgrims came to the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.  The shrine, completed in 1920, is located in Yoyogi Park amid a forest of trees from across the archipelago and is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

A large giant screen was set up a few hundred meters from the entrance to the sanctuary and the compact crowd was warned about social distancing as the people advanced in waves throughthe sanctuary grounds.

In front of the main south gate of the temple, a white tiger and a red sun was drawn.  The tiger is an animal from imperial mythology from the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes justice and bravery in Taoist  mythology.

The pilgrims threw coins at the altar to support their New Year prayers.  Large fabric tarps were placed for this special occasion which marks the first visit of the year to shrines and temples for many Japanese.

On the outskirts of the shrine, pilgrims could buy omikuji ,scrolls of divination papers and amulets to protect against bad luck.  Other pilgrims were busy writing their New Year’s greetings on wooden tablets (ema), which they hung on an “ema kake.“

The first visit to the shrine allows pilgrims to make prayers and wishes for the coming year and are celebrated in both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.