What is Hatsumode? A Japanese culture of prayer and renewal

What is Hatsumode? - A Japanese culture of prayer and renewal

Hatsumode is a traditional Japanese event in which people visit shrines and temples for the first time in the new year to pray for safety and happiness throughout the year. Many people visit shrines and temples with family and friends from New Year's Day through the first three days of the year, entrusting various wishes to the gods and Buddhas, such as safety for their families, good health, business success, academic success, traffic safety, and protection from misfortune.

This act is not merely a religious ritual, but also symbolizes the spiritual culture of the Japanese people, as it marks the turning point of the year, allowing them to calm their minds, reflect on the past, and embrace hope for the future.

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The origin of hatsumode: from seclusion to eho-mairi and then to hatsumode

The roots of hatsumode go back to the ancient Japanese custom of toshigomori, in which the head of a household would retreat to the shrine of their local deity (ujigami) from the night of New Year's Eve until the morning of New Year's Day to pray for the well-being of their family and a bountiful harvest.

As time went on, this practice split into "Joyamode" (New Year's Eve visit) and "Ganjitsumode" (New Year's Day visit), and eventually evolved into "Hatsumode," the first visit to a shrine on New Year's Day.

During the Edo period, the custom of "Eho Mairi" became widespread. This involved visiting a shrine or temple in the lucky direction (lucky direction) of the year, and praying to the god (Toshitokujin) residing in that direction was believed to bring good fortune.

In the Meiji era, the development of railways dramatically changed the landscape of hatsumode. Railway companies began selling "hatsumode trains" and "hatsumode tickets," making it easier to access famous shrines and temples from urban areas, and hatsumode became an established annual event nationwide.

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The Cultural Significance of Hatsumode: Prayer, Gratitude, and Vows

Hatsumode is not just a place to make wishes. It is a place that embodies three spiritual pillars that Japanese people have always held dear.

• Gratitude: Express gratitude to the gods and Buddhas for the blessings of daily life, such as the safety of the previous year, the harvest, and the health of family members.
• Prayers: People pray for peace and safety in the new year, good health, success in work and studies, etc. By receiving amulets and votive plaques and putting their wishes into words, they also clarify their resolve.
• Commitment: It is an opportunity to renew your mind and reexamine your goals and way of life.

It is also believed that the "Toshigami-sama" (God of the New Year) visits every home during the New Year, and the first visit to a shrine is said to be an act of making a "contract for the new year" with the god. New Year decorations such as kadomatsu (New Year's pine decorations), shimenawa (sacred rope), and kagami mochi (rice cakes) are also considered preparations to welcome the Toshigami-sama.

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Social role: A ritual that connects people

While visiting a shrine for the first time in the year is an act of faith, it is also a social ritual that deepens bonds between people. A visit with family becomes a place for interaction across generations, and a visit with friends or loved ones becomes a time to share each other's wishes.

It is also common for companies and organizations to visit shrines at the beginning of the new year, a practice known as "group hatsumode," to pray for the safety and prosperity of the organization and also to boost employee morale.

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Where should I worship?

There are no clear rules about where to visit on New Year's Day, but it is generally believed that you should visit the local ujigami (guardian deity) of the area where you live. The ujigami is the deity that protects the land and is closely related to the lives of the local people.

On the other hand, many people visit shrines and temples that are worshipped throughout the country, such as Ise Shrine, Meiji Shrine, and Izumo Taisha, and the meaning of "pilgrimages to create connections" is also becoming stronger.

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Scenes of New Year's visits to shrines and their modern forms

Modern hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) sees a variety of styles that blend tradition and modern culture.

• Late-night worship: The "Ninen Mairi" ritual, held from the night of New Year's Eve through New Year's Day, is a special experience of welcoming the New Year at a shrine.
• Food stalls and lively activity: The temple grounds are lined with food stalls selling sweet sake, takoyaki, lucky bags and more.
• Fortune-telling culture: Fortune-telling slips are also popular, and if you draw a lucky number, it is said to be a good start to the year.
• Online first shrine visit: Services are now available that allow you to visit distant shrines online and receive amulets by mail.

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Summary: New Year's visits to shrines are a way to pass on the culture of prayer

Hatsumode is an annual event unique to Japan that was born from the fusion of ancient ancestral worship, agricultural rituals, and modern transportation culture. In that moment, under the cold sky, we join our hands together, connecting the past with the future and pacifying our minds.

A quiet prayer at the start of the new year. This is where the beautiful spiritual culture of the Japanese people and a timeless form of prayer live on. Hatsumode is not just an event, but a profound cultural activity that renews the soul and confirms social bonds.