Preserving National Character, Sustaining Society as Ise Shrine Rites Start

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We should respect and preserve the Japanese national character, which embodies the long history and unique culture of the nation.

A series of rites began in May that will lead up to the Shikinen Sengu ceremony in 2033. That time-honored ceremony takes place once every 20 years. It involves rebuilding the Ise Grand Shrine's main buildings and the transfer of its shinza, the seat of its enshrined deity, Amaterasu Omikami. The first two sacred rites, the Yamaguchisai and Konomoto festivals, were solemnly held recently, following ancient custom.

Two deities are worshipped at the Ise Grand Shrine, which is also known as Ise Jingu. The first is Amaterasu Omikami, the earliest ancestor of the Imperial family and the patron deity of the Japanese people. She is joined by Toyouke no Omikami, the guardian deity of food, clothing, shelter, and all industries.

The Shikinen Sengu ceremony is a major festival in which the shrine sanctuary, home of the sacred treasures and the shinza, along with furnishings and apparel, are renewed. The Emperor himself decides the date and time for this ceremony, which has been held for over 1,300 years. Its events are closely linked to the national character.

A Shinto priest and a guardian deity (second from the right) perform the banquet ritual at the Yamaguchi Festival, the first rituall of the Shikinen Sengu. May 2, 2025, at the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture.

This is the 63rd performance of the Shikinen Sengu. The start of its series of solemn rites affords us a golden opportunity to consider the ceremony's significance. Through its rituals, the essence of Japan is developed further as it is passed on to future generations.

Shikinen Sengu's Major Festivals

The Yamaguchi Festival, held on May 2, is a daytime ceremony to pray for safe felling and transportation of the timber for the new buildings. On the same day, the Kimoto Festival is an evening ceremony to worship the kami dwelling in the tree to be used for the Shin no Mihashira (sacred core pillar) in the center of the floor of the new main sanctuary.

All Ise Shrine buildings are due to be rebuilt eight years from now. Before then, about 30 events and rituals are planned. These include the Okihiki ceremony in which local residents bring in the needed lumber into the shrine site, a Jichinsai Shinto groundbreaking ceremony, and a Ritchu ceremony to erect the pillars of the main hall.

The central ceremony, the Shikinen Sengu rite, will take place in the fall of 2033. That is when the Yata no Kagami sacred mirror, symbolizing Amaterasu Omikami, will be moved to the new sanctuary's Inner Shrine (Naikaku). In 2013, the last enactment of the Shikinen Sengu, the ceremonies cost approximately ￥55 billion JPY (nearly $378 million USD ). These costs were covered by the shrine's own funds and donations from citizens and businesses across the country.

Emperor Tenmu (c 673-686) established the Shikinen Sengu system during the Asuka period (538 CE- 710 CE). The ceremony was first performed during the reign of his immediate successor, Emperor Jito (c 690-697).

*Ise Grand Shrine rebuilds its main shrine every 20 years. This photograph is from the ceremony in October 2013.*

Surviving Wars and Occupation

During the Sengoku civil war era, the performance of the ceremony was temporarily discontinued. However, it was thereafter revived, thanks to the patronage of the hegemon Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who followed Nobunaga's wishes. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa Shogunate covered all the costs, as did the national government following the Meiji Restoration.

Under the postwar Constitution, in line with the separation of religion and state, the Japanese government is no longer involved. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the Shikinen Sengu was originally a festival for the entire nation of Japan.

Among its significant features, the ceremony preserves ancient architectural styles to this day. Even though the buildings are repeatedly torn down, they are newly rebuilt in exactly the same way. The techniques for fabricating the sacred shrine treasures have also been faithfully passed down.

Through preserving these traditions and constantly recreating them, the nation's essence can live on forever. In today's world, where there are global calls for a sustainable society, we should be proud of our Japanese ancestors, who have been practicing that very thing for over a millennium.