Japanese take plunge in Tokyo shrine's ice bath to pray for New Year
Japanese Shinto devotees braved the cold and took a plunge in an ice bath in Tokyo on Sunday, in a traditional ritual aimed at purifying the soul and praying for the new year. A group of 99 people, including 17 women, wearing white loincloths and gowns, knelt into a pool filled with icy water and chanted prayers with their hands clasped tightly. “It’s very cold. But after participating for the first time last year, I felt so refreshed both physically and mentally. So I was determined to take part again this year. For a whole year I had been preparing for this by showering in cold water every day. I’m so glad I was able to do it again this year,” said 44-year-old belly dancer Chisato Takahashi. The ritual dates back to 1955, inspired by a former chief priest of the shrine who poured cold water over himself as he prayed for the health and prosperity of the local community.
REUTERS VIDEO
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