Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2014

Shichigosan Children’s Festival
Shichi-Go-San is said to haveoriginated in the Heian Period (7941185) among court nobles who celebrated the passage of their children
into middle childhood.
The ages 3, 5 and 7 are consistent
with Japanese numerology, which
dictates that odd numbers are lucky.
Over time, this tradition passed tothe samurai class who added a number of rituals.
Children who
were required bycustom to haveshaven heads
until 3 wereallowed to growout their hair in a ritual called kamitoki.
The hakamagi ritual allowed boysof 5 to wear hakama for the first time,
while girls of 7 replaced the simple
cords they used to tie their kimono
with a traditional obi in the obitoki
ritual.
By the Meiji Period (1868-1912),
the practice was adopted by commoners and included visiting a shrine towish for a long healthy life.
3 year old girls began to wear ahifu vest while 5 year old boys wore
haori and hakama, traditional garments of the samurai warrior class. 7year old girls wore kimono outfits

with elaborate obi sashes.
Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii
Dazaifu Tenmangu was the first to
initiate a Shichigosan blessing withcomplimentary kimono dressing inhopes of perpetuating a tradition
that is spiritually enriching andculturally exciting.
Since 1994, the shrine has
blessed over 5,000 children - a featonly possible because of the tirelessgenerosity of our volunteers.
A heartfelt mahalo goes out toshrine officers, Hanayagi Dancing
Academy Hawaii Foundation instructors and students, Yasumi Gojo
and devoted volunteers for theirkokua week after week, during thisseason.
Shichigosan blessings continue
until November 23.

MAHALO for your generous donations
Thomas & Linda Agawa
Doughty Ohana
Yasumi Gojo
Bob Harada
Kyoko Isa
Manichi Ramen

Shinken & Marilyn
NaitohCraig & Diane Nishida
ProWorks
Akiko Sanai
Sugawara Ohana

MAHALO Volunteers

Blessing of Manichi Ramen

Alyssa Fujihara
Gayle Fujihara
Bryson Goda
Yasumi Gojo
Kathy Hamada Kwock
Bob Harada
Stacie Hata
Arthur K. Isa
Tom Jannuzzio
Lorraine Kadota
Elaine Komatsu
Marilyn Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Diane Nishida
Jill NishidaDiane OgasawaraYukiko Shishido
Dee Shimamoto
Stacie Shimamoto
Naomi Teramoto

Hilo Daijingu
Hilo Daijingu was established on November
3, 1898 in Olaa by Rev.Kakuta Goshi.
It was originally named Yamato Jinja and was
the first Shinto shrine to be built in the state.
Members of the community donated a total of$1,200 to fund the construction of the shrine which
was built by professional Japanese miya daiku or
carpenters that specialized in shrine construction.
The founder of Yamato Jinja, Rev. Goshi wasborn into a family of Shinto priests. He arrivedin Hawaii in 1892 as a contract worker on thesugar plantations. After completing his three and ahalf year contract, he along with others in the community established Yamato Jinja. Rev. Goshi passed away onMarch 3rd, 1902.
Rev. Jikko Goshi followed his father, Rev. Kakuta Goshi to Hawaii in 1901. After the death of his father, he became guji chief preist of Yamato Jinja. It was during this time that Yamato Jinja became Hilo Daijingu in 1903.
Rev. Goshi was a teacher in Japan and started an elementary school at the shrine, working hard to actively involve
the Japanese community in shrine observances. He returned to Japan in 1941 and passed away in 1944.
The 3rd Guji, Rev. Isamu Kudo arrived in Hawaii in 1940 from Kumamoto Prefecture. He married SumikoGoshi, the daughter of Rev. Jikko Goshi and became the guji. Rev. Kudo was interned right after the war broke out
in 1941 and eventually repatriated to Japan.
Rev. Chonosuke Kanno, the 4th guji came to Hawaii in February 1907 from Fukushima Prefecture and worked asa tailor. After shrine property was returned to the members in 1955, Rev. Kanno accepted the position of guji. Dueto failing health, Rev. Kanno returned to Japan on April 16th, 1958.
Upon Rev. Kanno’s return to Japan, members of Hilo Dajingu sought the help of Jinja Honcho in finding a newguji. On February 12, 1959, a 29-year-old Rev. Akio Miyazaki, arrived from Yokohama with his wife Yoshii.
In 1960, Hilo was devastated by a tsunami. Rev. Miyazaki fled inland with the Goshintai, but the shrine building, along with most of Hilo was wipedout.
For three years, services were conducted at Onomea Ishizuchi Jinja.
Land was eventually purchased atAnela Street and plans for the construction
began in 1963.
After serving as the chief preist for over
40 years, Rev. Miyazaki suffered a heart
attack and passed away on April 21, 1999.
In 1999, Rev. Daizo Watanabe became
the 5th Guji to serve the shrine followed
by Rev. Naohiro Hotta’s arrival in 2013.
Former Branch Shrines, which are nolonger in existence today include Olaa 14Mile Daijingu, Hakalau Daijingu, Wainaku
Shinden and Kona Kealakekua Daijingu.

Photo of Hilo Daijingu from a festival in 1938.

上座と下座Kamiza and Shimoza

In Western culture, the most important person usually sits at the head of the table, whether the occasion is a company board meeting or a dinner party.
The position of honor in Japan is called Kamiza (literally higher seat) and is reserved for the personwith the highest rank or a special guest, while the opposite is called Shimoza (lower seat).
In Japanese society, the rank and relationship between individuals are important to maintain thesocial structure.

In a tatami room,
the Kamiza would
be the seat nearest
the tokonoma,
alcove or farthestfrom the entrance.

In a western room,
the kamiza would be
the seat farthest fromthe entrance or one
with the best view
from the window.

When entering a room in Japan on a formal
occasion or meeting, it is of great importance to· In a vehicle, the person with highest rank sits
assume the correct seating or standing position.
behind the driver, while the lowest in rank rides shotgun.
When sitting in a business meeting or at a social
event, your superior, elder or one with a higher
status in the company or community sits or stands
on your left. One that is younger or lower in status
than yourself sits or stands on your right.
It is also favorable to have the highest ranking
or most important person to be seated in front of
the Tokonoma alcove, or farthest away from theentrance.
The practice of Kamiza and Shimoza evolved from the warrior class of the Tokugawa period.
Samurai would place their sword on the floor to the left when sitting since it was faster to grab
the scabbard with one’s left and draw the sword with the right hand.
As such, only those who were considered trustworthy would sit or stand on your left. It was alsomeant to protect the heart as it was more difficult to lunge at someone and pierce their heart from theright side, of the person you are attacking.