Volume 3 Issue 9

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu

WHERE ANCIENT TRADITIONS THRIVE

December 2013

Shiwasu - the last monthof the year
Shogatsu is the most important
holiday in Japan. It is a Shinto holiday, a tranquil time for every family
and the best loved of Japanese holidays.
December, also known as Shiwasu(literally, teacher busily runningaround) is a very hectic month.
Tradition has it that all people
must cleanse themselves of the oldyear before entering the new one.
First, people must forget their unpleasant memories at Bonenkai
Yearend parties - with a little help
from sake.
Then, they must complete all ongoing projects by Shigoto osame or
the final day at the office, usually
December 29.
At the end of every year, Japanese
homes are meticulously cleaned in aneffort to drive out any impure influences that may have taken up residence during the previous year. It’s
considered inauspicious to drag old
business, clutter and dust into a brandnew year.
Purification is the key objective
and the end result is a clean anduncluttered house to welcome theToshigami or the new year gods on
New Years day.
Finally, all debts must be paid by
the end of the year.
Following the purification of one’s
mental, emotional and physical self,
the office, home, and finances, all
Shogatsu decorations like Kadomatsu
and Shimenawa are displayed.
Japan is known as the most fastidious country in the world. This obsession with cleanliness comes from
Shinto and its numerous rites of purification.
Another Shiwasu tradition isOseibo. Oseibo originated with thecustom of placing offerings on ancestors' graves which over time morphed
into more general gift-giving.
Oseibo gifts are intended to be an
expression of thanks to someone whohas shown you kindness during theyear. They might be given to clients,superiors at work, your doctor or landlord. Traditionally, the gifts exchanged
as oseibo are consumables.
For many Japanese, oseibo seems
to have been overtaken by theexchange of Christmas presents.
While oseibo carries the nuance ofpublic obligation, Christmas gifts are
more private expressions usually given
to family members or close friends,
not business associates.
Everywhere in Japan in December
you'll see elaborate displays of Christmas decorations and Christmasthemed treats intended for gift-giving.
At the same time, you'll also see displays of the traditional oseibo items
like beer, ham, rice, and a variety offancy packaged foods.

View shrine photos at www.flickr.com/photos/kotohiradazaifu

MAHALO for your generous donations
Thomas & Linda Agawa
Stephanie Agena
Andrew Aiu-Yoshikawa
Yuko Arai
Margret Arakaki
Tadayuki Arimoto
Emi Brown
Susan Bueno
Joe & Kazumi Cabangsag
Chiko Canon
Kumi Chiba
Motoe Clawson
Koji Ezaki
Reuben Felipe
Amber Fereti
Paul & Momoyo Fowler

MAHALOVOLUNTEERS
Keiko Doughty
Alyssa Fujihara
Gayle Fujihara
Bryson Goda
Yasumi Gojo
Kathy Hamada-Kwock
Miyoko Hanahara
Bob Harada
Stacie Hata
Arthur K. Isa
Lorraine Kadota
Kamehameha Schools
Elaine Komatsu
Marilyn Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Diane Nishida
Jill NishidaDiane Ogasawara
Kei Sakamoto
Bethany Schwartz
Yukiko Shishido
Yuko Takahashi
Naomi Teramoto
Sharon Toma

Page 2Jerry & Joan Fujita
Lindsey & Amy Dang
Jade Fujimoto
Tamami Grieg
James & Yuko Habit
Bob Harada
Steve Harris
Blaine Hasebe
Lance Hata
Cheryl Higa
June Higaki
Kevin Higaki
Donald & Rei Holmes
William & Naoko Holyfield
Kainua Hopkins
Kevin Hotema
Jonathan & Amy Hung
Kyoko Isa
Chisayo Igarashi
Mayumi Ikutame
Dawn Inouye
Hikaru Ishijima
Kristal Ishikawa
Tommy Ishikuni
Nana Isono
Shinji Ito
Kirk & Deanna Iwamoto
Eri Iwasaki
Marcia Izawa
JALPAK Hawaii
Jacob Jiskra
Juie Jones
Lorraine Kadota
Tracy Kaita
Ari Kajita
Tiffany Kalahiki
Yoshiko Kaneshiro
U’ilani Kapuaakuni
Vicky Sasano Kim
Ray & Naoko Kimura
Kyoko KingPeter & Laurie Kawamura
Hidemi Kitamura
Aya Koike
Hidetaka & Risa Kojima
Aki Kuioka
Diane Lam
Pamianne Lam
Daniel & Yumiko Lee
Maggie Lee
Shaynen & Angelica Low

JulieAnn Lum
Kawika & Eileen Maeda
Takakazu Maeda
Yayoi MarshallJay & Narumi Matsumiya
Barry & Takako McCorkell
Ayako McGrath
Mike & Kelly Meyer
Jacob Miyashiro
Naoko Miyashiro
Kim Miyoshi
Donna Lynn Monteiro
Asami Morishita
Nana Morrison
Etsuko Morita
Shiken & Marilyn Naitoh
Tomoko Naka
Jennifer Nakamura
Yoshiro Nakamura
Sumie Nishibarta
Craig & Diane Nishida
Cherlyne Nishita
Dan & Christy Nishita
Eric & Maya Nouchi
Diane Ogasawara
Debbie Okada
Azusa Okamura
Lisa Okamura
Akane Omura
Michihiro Onodera
Aiko Ortega-Shibuya
Scott & Seiko Oyama
Sidney & Rie Pang
Brady & Dawn Perreira
Yoko Quitan
Akiko Sanai
Renee Sato
Kanako Schempp
Grant & Hanae Schroeder
Naoko Seki
Jill Shibata
Kohei Shibata
Faye Sueoka
Keith & Julie Sueyoshi
Namiko Synan
Jade Takehiro
Cher & Blayne Takemoto
Nobu Takimoto
Julian Tanioka
Franci Terada
Masayo Terao

Roosevelt Towata
Yuki Tran
Gavin & Denise Tsue
Sean & Nari Uezu
Ejo Urakami
Traceylen UrakamiTammy Walther
Satoko Winning
Sachiko Wong
Miho Woody
Lynn Yamada
Lisa Yamamoto
Yoko Yano
Nahoko Yasuda
Ashley Yokoyama
Chieko Yoshihara
Kari Ann Yoshino
Bill & Akiko Ziezulewicz

Volunteer Kei Sakamoto
receiving a Yakudoshi
blessing at the shrine.

H A W A I I KO T O HI R A J I NS H A

Roof Project 2013
The shrine completed it’s Roof Restoration Project for 2013 withpainting of the kitchen’s flat deck roof by David’s Roofing & Painting.
On 11/11, the roof was power-washed. A few days later, a fabric coating with Tropical Silicone was applied and left to dry.
On 11/20, a top coat of H.A. Solargard Elastomeric Coating wasapplied to provide waterproof protection and to reflect light and heat awayfrom the roof.
Our heartfelt Mahalo goes out to our many donors for making thesemaintenance projects possible.
A big mahalo also goes out to Vice President Bob Harada for coordinating the various maintenance and beautification projects.

JALPAK Hawaii Omamori
Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu has an exclusive Marathon Finisher’s omamori that will be given to hundreds ofJALAK clients that participate in the Honolulu Marathon this Sunday,December 8, 2013.
This is the second year that the shrine has collaborated with
JALPAK to create an event-specific omamori
The omamoris were consecrated in ritual by Rev Takizawa on
December 5.

Shichigosan 2013
We would like to extend our Mahalo to all that participated in our Shichigosan and Jusan
Mairi blessings for 2013.
The special Blessing began on October 20 and ended on
November 24 with a total of 422 children from Oahu, neighborbor islands, Japan, Mainland and Europe
Our sincere Mahalo goes out to the instructors of the Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaii Foundation, Marilyn Naitoh,Yasumi Gojo, Naomi Teramoto, Miyoko Hanahra, KeikoDoughty, Yuko Takahashi, Kei Sakamoto, students of Kamehameha Schools and the devoted officers and directors of theshrine - especially to Dr. Shinken Naitoh who flew in from
Maui every weekend to help out at this event.
Shichigosan and Jusan Mairi blessings for 2014 are scheduled
for October 19 - November 23.
VOLUME 3

Page 3

A Piece of History

Come celebrate Hatsumode 2014at Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha – HawaiiDazaifu Tenmangu and embrace
the spirit of the Japanese with a
traditional New Years blessing
from Midnight to 5:00 pm.
Hatsumode 2014 will feature Shishimai Lion Dance, Kagami-biraki
Sake and complimentary bowls ofOzoni Mochi soup.
PARKING:
Damien School on Houghtailing St.
Free Shuttle runs continuously between Midnight ~ 2am and 10am ~3:30 pm.

Mochi was thrown to members at the opening of the new hall that wasrelocated from it’s original site on H-1, near Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center. The above photo was taken on September 26, 1962www.e-shrine.org
WE NEED YOUR HELPWe need your kokua on Dec
31, Jan 1,2,3,4 ,5.
If you are able to volunteer
for a few hours on any of theabove date(s), please contact
Irene at 841-4755 orKotohira@hawaiiantel.net.
Whether you have lots of time
to volunteer or only a few
hours, consider making thekind of impact that only you
can make.
Become a part of the 94-year
old tradition of the shrine !!

Relocation of the Hall building was completed on September 13, 1962.

www.e-shrine.org