Where ancient traditions thrive

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu
Volume 5, Issue 1

Happy New Year!
Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu and Happy New Year to all in
the year of the Ox.
The Ox is the quintessential
hardworking, conventional cleanerupper who will put everything back inorder and turn chaos back into reason.
It’s a plain-and-simple, cutand-dried, yes-and-no type year. It’s ayear to get papers in order and your life
back on track, and to do whatever ittakes to budget and plan for your financial future, lessening the stress andsecuring your position.
Many will be searching for aquick solution to the current economiccrisis, but the ox year requires a wellplanned, consistent path that will takemore time but lay a foundation for long
lasting, positive results.
Remember - the Ox year
brings success only through discipline and very hard work. The lesson in 2009 is 'Work before Play'.
Those who resist hard work
this year can experience an uphill battle in the years to come.
Previous Ox years have seenstock markets fall in Asia and the US.

In the 1973 Ox year, equity
markets crashed after the collapse of
the Bretton-Woods system, and OPEC
imposed an oil embargo which rocketed up world oil prices.
In 1997 Thailand dropped theBaht's value, causing a financial crisisand Indonesian President Suharto wasforced to step down following widespread riots caused by the devaluationof the Indonesian Rupiah.
Many major corporations will
also undergo restructuring and/orchanges in leadership.
The Ox is a complex Earthelement., but the Earth in 2009 is notstrong and there's instability which
can bring earth disasters such asearthquakes or landslides.
Avoid construction, renovations or drilling in the East and Northeastern sectors of your property orhome.
At home, the year of the Ox is
associated with domestic troubles that
seems to have no solution.
Ox years tend to bring out
miscommunications and the inability
to compromise, especially on minor
details. Lots of patience and understanding will be necessary.
For those born in the year ofthe Ox, this is a year of fluctuations.
Be prepared for a rough year ahead
with changes in your living environment, wealth, romance and careers.
This is also not a favorable
year for those born in the year of theSheep. Exercise patience and do nottake undue financial risks. Legal affairs may also be an issue.
2009 promises to be a time offinancial restraint. Saving will be
more important than spending andeven those with cash will be tightening their belts.
Businesses that work tokeep their clients with prompt, efficient and excellent customer service will survive, while companies
that take an indifferent approach totheir clientele will fall to ruin.
Tradition will be importantand making sure that everyoneplays by the rules a must.
This year, you will reap
what you sow. What has gonearound, will come around. This isalso not a year to cross the law orauthorities.
Stick to the familiar, andthe tried and true. Take pride anddelight in your home and family.
Good luck and blessings toyou and yours.

MAHALO for your generous donations
Thomas & Linda Agawa
Lois Arakaki
Violet Arakaki
Daniel Aramaki
Dean Asahina
Yuki Balunso
Anna Chang
Dorothy Ching
Sayuri Ching
Economy Plumbing
Omar & Joyce Faufata
Byron & Kazuko Fujieki
Toshiko Fujisaki
Ann GooHankyu Express USA Inc.
Alvin Hamada
Kathy Hamada-Kwock
Bob Harada
Chiaki Hayashi
Betty Hironaga
Elaine Hirosumi
Arthur Horio
Steven & Deborah Ann Horio
Joyce Inao
Kyoko Isa
Kumi Iseki
Mitsuru & Pam Igarashi
Nancy Ikuta
Juney Mei Ishida
Richard & Rachel Ishida
Robert & Jean Ishihara
Japan Airlines
Lorraine Kadota
Dean & Carlyn Kagawa
Sonia Kajiwara
Noreen Kanada
Norman & Diane Kaneshige
Eiji & Yuka Kato
Rachel & Stanley Kawakami
Yoshiko Kawakami
Michael Kawamoto
Yoshio Kijinami
Lillian Kimura
Thelma Kimura
Hatsue Kinoshita
Kiyomi KiseMarjorie Kobayashi
Dennis & Wendy Kodama
Akari Koizumi
Kenneth Komatsu
Ellen Kondo
Kotake Shokai
Theresa Kuehu
Kenneth Kunichika
James & Melba Kurashige

Ed & Chiyoko Lau
Ruthe Matsumoto
Audrey Miyamoto
Colleen Morimoto
Roy Morioka
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Lisa T. Nakamura
Sharon Nakamura
Pat & Jeanette Nakata
Nakazato Fish Market
Masateru & Hatsuko Nakazato
Craig & Diane Nishida
Clyde & Gayle Nishimoto
Theone Nishimura
Diane Ogasawara
Doris Okawa
Earl & Toyoko Okawa
Iris Okawa
Lois Okawa
Yuko Okura
Russell & Jan Ota
Pacific Hi-Tak
Ken Romaniszyn
Kenneth & Kumiko Saiki
Casey Sakai
Sharon Sakamoto
Adrian & Susan Sakata
Irvin Sasaki
Merle Sato
Masayoshi & Lorraine Sawai
Robert & Dee Shimamoto
Teruto & Doris Soma
Alice Sugimoto
Sugimoto Family
JM Takasane
Lynn Takeshita
Barbara Tamanaha
Edwin Tanabe
Katsufumi & Shannon Tani
Sharon Tanigawa
Anne S. Tanioka
Geraldine Tanoue
Kyle & Donna Tengan
Sharon TomaPaul Tomita
Toshiko Tougas
George & Harumi Tsubota
Masao & Peggy Tsukida
James & Roberta Uesugi
Steve & Sharon Umeda
Katoyo Usuba
Debra Watanabe
Calvin Yamada
Donald Yanagi
Ronald Yonemoto

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha - Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu is a 501(C )(3) nonprofit
church. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

2009 Shrine Calendar
February
8

Tsukinami-sai Monthly service & Setsubun-sai
月次祭・節分祭

March
1

Tsukinami-sai Monthly service 月次祭

April
5

Tsukinami-sai Monthly service 月次祭

18 Clean-up & Mochi Pounding 掃除と餅つき
19 Spring Thanksgiving Festival

春季感謝大祭MAHALOFor your hard work and spirit ofvolunteerism to perpetuate thetraditions of Hatsumode
Naomi Book
Lyle Carlos
Shalene CartwrightThomas ChungPaul Fung
Lorraine Doliente
Farrington HighSchool Key Club
Brandon Goda
Bryson Goda
Bob Harada
Kristi Hills
Ryuji Hoshino
Yumi Hoshino
Emi Igarashi
Kai Igarashi
Mitsuru Igarashi
Pam Igarashi
Arthur Isa
Arthur MJY Isa
Dawn Isa
Kyoko Isa
Lorraine Kadota
Kenneth Kunichika
Brandon Lee
Ryan Mandado

Jack MacMillan
Audrey Miyamoto
Roy Morioka
Marilyn Naitoh
Milena Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Norman Nakashima
Diane Nishida
Jill Nishida
Axel Obara
Natsu Okamura
Leeward Pagaduan
Roosevelt High School
Interact Club
Katrina SagadracaShermaine J. Salvador
Marisssa Sembrano
Dee Shimamoto
Robert Shimamoto
Stacey Shimamoto
Naomi Teramoto
Mayumi Togashi
Nishie Tomiyama
Jennifer Tunoa
Yasuko Uyehara
Hiroshi Yamaji

Read our newsletters online

www.e-shrine.org

初詣 Hatsumode 2009

Japanese Wedding Traditions
In Japan, the wedding ceremony has gone through various
changes through the ages. The mostimportant and historical change in
the Japanese marriage system is said
to have been the abolishment of thepractice of "Muko-iri" or the bridegroom entering the family of his
prospective bride and the adoptionof the "Yome-iri" system for a brideto enter the bridegroom's family.
The change seems to havetaken place in the 14th century by
the rise of the samurai warrior class.
During the Hein period (794- 1185), a male would visit his prospective bride at her home for threeconsecutive nights, a practice calledkayoi-muko. On the third night, agrand reception called tokoro
arawashi would be held to celebrate
the marriage of the young couple.
With the rise of the samurai
warrior class, whose spheres of activities were no longer limited within
Kyoto, the system of brides marrying into the groom’s family wasgradually adopted and widely
accepted in the 14th century.
Under the feudal system
marriages were often used as political and diplomatic approaches tomaintaining peace and unity amongfeudal lords. Thus, the personal willof men and women were ignored in

the face of family interests.
Marriages came to be arranged by and for families and therole of Nakodo or go-between becamevery important.
The Shinto wedding wasadopted by the masses in 1900 after
the wedding of Emperor Taisho, heldon May 10, 1900.
The Shinto wedding is performed in a shrine or before a Shinto
sanctuary set up in a location awayfrom the shrine and is usually attended by members of both families,
close relatives and their go-betweens.
Go-betweens are often selected more for ceremonial purposes
from among elderly couples known
and close to either or both of the families to be united in marriage.
A familiar ritual of a Shinto
wedding is the San-San-Kudo or literally, Three-Three-Nine, an exchangeof nuptial cups performed by the brideand groom.
The Shinto ceremony is a ashort service, simple in procedure but
full of ancient traditions.
Most of weddings in Japanare held at hotels or wedding hallswith Chapels and shrines conveniently located within the facilities.
Many non-Christian couples
are often married in Christian chapels.
Presently in Japan, over 60% of all

Rev Takizawa and Ryuji Hoshino performing Keppai no Gi, commonly known as Sansankudo for Lance & Sally Fujieki on January 9, 2009

weddings are performed by Christianministers. Data shows that approximately 2% of those being married in
the Christian tradition are actually
Christians. The majority of newlyweds are Buddhist or claim no religious belief.
After the wedding ceremony,a reception called kekkon hiroen isheld. The style and scale of wedding
receptions vary depending on theregions.
If you are attending a Japanese wedding reception, you are expected to give cash as a gift. The
amount depends on your relationshipwith the couple, unless a fixedamount is indicated in the invitation
card.
The average monetary gift is¥30,000 ($300) for a friend's wedding and ¥50,000 ($500) for relatives. It's important to enclose thecash in a special envelope calledshugi-bukuro, with your name written on the front. It’s also customary
to use clean, new bills.
The bride and broom change
outfits several times during the wedding reception. The bride wears awedding kimono and colorful gowns
and the groom wears a montsuki
hakama and a tuxedo.
During the reception, thenewlyweds sit on an elevated platform enjoying the guests' speeches
and performances.
The couple cuts a large wedding cake and walks around theroom, lighting candles and greeting
guests. A full course meal is often
served at the table.
At the wedding reception,souvenirs called hikide-mono areprepared in a bag for guests to takehome. In recent years, gift catalogs
from which guests can choose gifts
have grown in popularity as hikidemono.
One of the more popular
wedding traditions still observed today is the exchange of Yui-no or betrothal gifts.
The traditional Yui-no gifts
include as many as nine items symbolizing happiness and fortune:

Mokuroku - List of all gifts

Katsuo-bushi symbolizes masculinity
and is used only in Tokyo or the Kantoarea.

Surume - Dried cuttlefish symbolizes a long relationshipSuehiro - or fan is a symbol ofhappiness, as it expands, symbolizing a bigger and better future.

Tomo-shiraga - or hemp symbolizes white hair, expressing
wishes for a long life together.

Noshi - Long strips preparedfrom dried abalone symbolizes
longevity.

Yanagi-daru - Money to purchasesake casks made from the willow
tree, which symbolizes obedience by
the new bride.

Konbu - Seaweed is included tosymbolize happiness and fertility.

On-obiryo - Literally, “moneyto buy an obi sash,” is a dowry
exchanged as part of the Yui-nogifts.

JCCH Ohana New Years Festival
As part of its New Year’s traditions, the JCCH rang in 2009
with its New Year’s Ohana Festival, held on Sunday, January 11.
The fun-filled event featured food, crafts, entertainment andcultural art demonstrations of the people who make up this island state.

MAHALO Volunteers
Bob Harada
Bryson Goda
Ryuji Hoshino
Lorraine Kadota
Marilyn Naitoh

Shinken Naitoh
Diane Nishida
Axel Obara
Irene Takizawa
Naomi Teramoto

Sagicho - Burning of the old OmamoriThe annual Sagicho or burning of the old omamori and ofuda wasperformed on Sunday, January 18 from 2 pm.
Omamori and other items received from the Shrine are generally
renewed after one year. As the omamori of the previous year have beenconsecrated in religious ritual to bring us protection, we don’t merely discard them or burn them without the proper ceremony. We return them tothe shrine where they can be given proper gratitude, purified in ritual andthen burned in accordance with ancient tradition.

MAHALO Volunteers
Thomas Chun
Ryuji Hoshino
Yumi Hoshino
Arashi Igarashi
Emi Igarashi
Kai Igarashi
Pam Igarashi

Kyoko Isa
Brandon Lee
Jack MacMillan
Shinken Naitoh
Hatsuko Nakazato
Axel Obara
Irene Takizawa