At the end of November, the making of the shimenawa (twisted sacred straw ropes) was held at Gokusho, Takkoku no Iwaya. Although it is a little early, every year around this time, the town folk gather to prepare for the greeting of the New Year. They say the technique to twist the shimenawa is passed down only by observing how the senior members do it. It took them 2 days to complete the shimenawa for dedication.
Spiritual barriers made of bamboo grass called ‘kekkai’ are set up to prevent impurity from intruding into the precinct. They are tied before the sunrise of November 23rd as part of the New Year ceremony.
Why are the preparations for greeting the New Year held so early at Takkoku no Iwaya? At Takkoku no Iwaya, the New Year Greeting Festival of Bishamon-sama is held on December 2nd as the first of all services for the New Year. It is said that this is the earliest ‘New Year’ celebrated in Japan. All the deities enshrined here greet their own individual New Year within December so Takkoku no Iwaya celebrates New Year twice along with January 1st.
Why don’t you visit Takkoku no Iwaya, a rare place that greets the New Year twice?
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
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