Meiji Jingu 50th anniversary

Recently the biggest Shinto shrine in Tokyo, the Meiji Jingu, held its 50th anniversary celebration. The Meiji Shrine was built in the early 1900s to enshrine the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife - it was destroyed in the bombings during World War II, but was rebuilt in 1958, making this the 50th year since its restoration.

As I walked through the park in the dark, candles lit the path toward the shrine.



The torii which mark the entrance to the shrine, lit up in the dark.



A priest (or king?) and a young disciple maybe, talked to each other in a strange sing-songy voice - my friend said it reminded her of Noh theater, something I'm hoping to see in Tokyo soon.



The priest, at times, cried.



We left around the time when a scary-looking white-masked robed figure entered, slowly walked around menacingly, and finally sat next to the priest and a young cherry blossom tree.



Good times!