On the 30th of June, as the first event of Wakkanai Omotenashi Kimono Team, we are going to invite the overseas students of Wakkanai Hokusei Gakuen University to and join our Wakkanai Kimono Walking Tour.
Oharae, Great Purifications, are done twice a year at shrines (Jinjya) at the end of June and December. These annual ceremonies are held in order to remove all sins and stains that people might have committed or suffered for the sixth and twelfth month of the year.
The great purification which is held in June is called “Great purification of Summer (Nagoshi-no Oharae)”, and the other one which is held in December is called Annual Shinto ritual of purification (Toshikoshi-no harae).
Nagoshi no Oharae, the Great Purification of Summer, is held on the 30th of June. People walk through Chinowa, a big ring made of reed, in the hope of preventing diseases and disasters.
Nagoshi no Oharae will also be held at Hokumon Shrine, the northernmost shine of Japan. During the Shinoto ritual, the overseas students will experience this Chinowa kuguri rite as well
After attending Oharae, we are going to Seto tei, Captain Seto’s former residence, enjoying our Kimono walking tour.
A volunteer professional photographer will accompany us in the tour. so the pictures will be posted soon on the website.
We hope that the students will enjoy the tour and discover something special of Japanese culture and Wakkanai. At the same time, we are going to ask feedback to improve our tour.
