Summary
Meiji Jingu is one of the religious sites in Japan where many people visit during the New Year holidays. The precinct with the huge forest of 70 hectares in the hustle and bustle of Harajuku, Tokyo, was created by 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan and were planted about 100 years ago. Reaching almost a naturally self-generating state, this shrine forest has roughly 10 million people visit from both Japan and overseas each year.
However, even the Japanese may not know that Meiji Jingu enshrines the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken. Kami (god) who are enshrined are not idolized to worship. The 80,000 or so shrines throughout Japan seem to function as places to connect with the numerous numbers of kami and to be rejuvenated, such as the custom of the Japanese celebrating Shichi-go-san[i] with their families in the autumn months. Non-Japanese can be seen sincerely praying in front of kami. Mr. Ito is interested in knowing what kind of meaning Shinto, rooted in the Japanese view of nature and life, has on our lives. This diplomatic Shinto priest, who has an extensive exposure to other cultures, will share his thoughts with you.
Portfolio of Moriyasu Ito
Moriyasu Ito is a Shinto priest of Meiji Jingu. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University, he entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). He was posted to Canada and Pakistan, and worked in the Southwest Asia Division and other departments in MOFA. He joined Meiji Jingu at the age of 35 to become a Shinto priest. Thereafter he has many experiences in foreign countries, such as one month in Assisi, a heavily Catholic-oriented city in Italy and spending four months at Brigham Young University in Utah, which is supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon). Seeing and attending various religious rituals and dialogues, he is seeking the meaning of Shinto as his capacity at Meiji Jingu.
[i] Shichi-go-san is a Japanese custom which five-year-old boys and three- and seven-year old girls visit shrines to show their gratitude and pray for health and prosperity as they grow.
RSVP by January 13 2025
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General Meeting Team:
Director: Mio Ikenaga
Program Coordinators: Emi Doi and Ko Iwata
Meeting Managers: Shigeko Nagaoka and Chamodi Withana
