Gratitude for the Harvest and Prayers for the Coming Year

Muramatsuri is a vital community event held in autumn across various regions of Japan, primarily conducted to thank the gods of the land for a good harvest of agriculture (mainly rice cultivation) and to pray for a bountiful harvest in the following year. This festival is not merely a regional event, but serves as a sacred ritual that expresses deep respect for nature’s bounty and confirms the spiritual connection with the gods. In agricultural villages welcoming the harvest season, it becomes a precious time to celebrate the fruits of a year’s labor together with the gods and express heartfelt gratitude.

Autumn Festival at Emishu-guu, Tenmangu Shrine in Shikama Ward, Himeji City ( Hyougo Prefecture)

Coexistence with the Eight Million Gods

Japanese gods are called Yaoyorozu no Kami (The gods dwell everywhere.), and they are believed to dwell in various places throughout our lives: rice paddies, fields, mountains, oceans, kamado (places where fire is handled), and countless other locations. Although usually invisible to the eye, people invite these gods into their homes and communities, holding festivals to show their appreciation. This worldview reflects the ancient Japanese belief that sacred power resides in all aspects of the natural world, a concept that continues to resonate in many people’s hearts even today.
Despite influences from foreign religions such as Buddhism and Christianity, Japan has never lost its reverence for the Shinto belief in the yaoyorozu no kami. Furthermore, even in the 21st century, we can observe how animistic culture continues to blend seamlessly with Japan’s high-tech orientation. This phenomenon can be attributed to Japan’s cultural diversity, inclusiveness, and deep sense of coexistence with nature.

Dousojin ( traveler’s guardian deity )

Shinto’s View of Nature and Its Modern Legacy

Shintoism has long been rooted in the worship of nature and the veneration of ancestors, maintaining animistic beliefs that gods reside in mountains, rivers, trees, and other elements of nature. This deep connection with daily life and local communities allowed Shinto to coexist harmoniously with foreign religions. For instance, when Buddhism arrived in the 6th century, instead of conflicting with Shinto, it merged to create a unique religious tradition called shinbutsu-shuugou (syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism), which shaped Japan’s distinctive spiritual landscape.
Even in the 21st century, this animistic worldview remains deeply embedded in Japanese culture, naturally blending with modern technology and subculture. The prevalence of anime and video games featuring themes of spirits and the power of nature reflects Shintoist values, demonstrating that the belief in spirits residing in natural objects continues to be part of people’s daily lives.

By Indiana jo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Embraced by the Festival’s Melodies

During the festivals, people sing, dance, and enjoy themselves with the gods using traditional instruments: the fue (flute) and taiko (drums). The powerful “don” sound of the drums and the beautiful “hyarara” melody of the flutes resonate throughout the village, creating a sacred atmosphere. These traditional instrumental sounds play a crucial role in welcoming the gods and expressing gratitude, while also uniting the hearts of all participants.

After the autumn festival concludes, the villagers begin preparing for winter. The festival represents Japanese wisdom of living in harmony with natural rhythms, marking the seasonal transitions and maintaining awareness of nature’s cycles.

Tsuchiura City Yasaka Festival (Ibaraki Prefecture) , By NU-Xs – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

In Japan, “New Year’s” is an incredibly significant seasonal celebration. It marks the start of the year and serves as a chance for a fresh mental and physical reset.

To welcome “Toshigamisama,” the deity of the New Year, people adorn their homes with “Kadomatsu” on auspicious days at the year’s end, prepare “Kagamimochi” and ceremonial sake, all in readiness for the welcoming ceremony. From New Year’s Day until the 3rd, known as “Sanganichi,” it was customary for families to peacefully spend time with Toshigamisama. Until the 1970s, shops would uniformly close, allowing homemakers to prepare “Osechi Ryouri,” dishes that could be made in advance, as they wouldn’t need to work during that period. Families would gather around the kotatsu, enjoying mandarins, visiting relatives and friends to exchange New Year’s greetings, while adults would share “Osechi Ryouri,” and sake from noon… that was the norm back then, an era without convenience stores like today.

Relatives living apart would also come together, and children eagerly awaited receiving “Otoshidama,” a New Year’s gift of pocket money. Cousins would gather, engaging in activities like flying kites, spinning tops, or playing “Hanetsuki” – an era without video games.

Traditionally, until the 15th in the new year, or shortened to the 7th in the Kanto region, “Matsunouchi” was observed. It’s a period where Toshigamisama is entertained at home, before gradually returning to the routine as the cold winter persists.

This song beautifully portrays the anticipation of children eagerly awaiting such “New Year’s” celebrations, expressed in simple yet heartfelt words, making it a timeless and cherished song sung across generations. HIGASHI_Kume, the lyricist, is known as the first person in Japan to write lyrics in colloquial language.

Selected as one of the”100 Best Japanese Songs”.

By the way, “Gantan” and “Ganjitsu” are often used interchangeably, but the character “Tan” is said to represent the rising sun depicted by a single horizontal line beneath the sun, signifying the morning of New Year’s Day.