This isn't really an "update" exactly, but just a couple cultural things about Japan and Sasebo that I thought were cool.
The first thing that I noticed when we were driving around Japan were
the shrines- they're everywhere! On the side of the road, in parks,
big, small, you name it! Before Alex left, we had a chance to go to a
shrine here in Sasebo. Here are a few pictures:
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| This is the entrance to the shrine. |
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| The little hut
to the left of the girl is a place where you wash your hands and your
mouth before entering the shrine. You're just supposed to gargle and
spit it out- quite a scene! |
I
don't think you can see from this last picture but under the entrance
to the shrine there's a big box where you toss go yen (a 5 yen coin).
Then there's a long rope attached to a bell that you ring loudly in
order to wake up the spirits so they know you're about to make a wish or
say a prayer. In this particular shrine there are 5 spirits that live.
Three in the main shrine, and two that have mini-shrines outside to
guard. Once you say a prayer you take a deep bow of appreciation to
thank the spirits, then clap your hands twice before leaving. It's an
interesting process to watch!
Here are some pictures of another shrine I went to yesterday (These aren't great since they were taken with my iPhone):
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