Japan has been celebrating a fall harvest with an ancient Shinto ceremony called Niinamesai, which literally means “the festival of new crops.” Japan was historically known as Mizuho no Kuni, the land of golden ears of rice. Niinamesai is one of the most important rituals of the country in which the Emperor on behalf of the people makes the season’s first offering to the gods and gives thanks for the harvest. Niinamesai was once celebrated in every farming and fishing village where people dedicate the year’s harvest to the shrines in each region. In other words, it was a major national event for both the Emperor and people to share the joy of harvest bestowed by the gods. With respect for the original significance of Niinamesai, we hope to renew our appreciation for food and spread the spirit of this celebration to as many people as possible.
Author: Norio Tao
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The meaning of the festival of rice harvest in Japan(Niinamesai新嘗祭)
Nov.25,2012 Professor Hitoshi NITTA Kohgakukan University
1 The festival of rice harvest in Japan and Way of Deities
The festival of rice harvest in Japan is called Niinameai（新嘗祭）. Niinamesai is a Shinto ritual to offer newly cropped rice to the deities, and to express deep gratitude to them. In the Imperial Palace, the Emperor conducts Niinameai by himself, as the Shinto Priest. He celebrates the harvest of rice on behalf of the Japanese and thanks to Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大神 the Sun Goddess, Ruler of Heaven, and Ancestor of Emperor) who made the harvest possible.
Following the Emperor, people all over Japan celebrate Niinamesai in local shrines. We pay tribute to deities that have bestowed the year’s crops.
2 The Japanese Myth
Japanese indigenous religion is called Shinto. Japanese ancestors had acknowledged spiritual beings(Kami 神) in all things of nature, like mountains and livers. In the Japanese mythology, the central figure of numerous deities is Amaterasu-ōmikami. Amaterasu-ōmikami bestowed rice to her grand-son Ninigi-no-mikoto（ニニギノ尊） in order to sustain people’ life. Ninigi-no-mikoto descended from Heaven to earth. For Japanese, rice is not just staple food because each grain of rice contains life of Amaterasu-ōmikami. Rice represents the spiritual bond connecting people and deities of Heaven. The essence of this Shinto ceremonial festival of rice harvest is ritualization of having meals. Through this, Japanese communicate with deities and express gratitude.
The Emperor celebrates the festival of rice harvest, or Niinamesai every autumn. After the new Emperor is enthroned, he conducts Niinamesai. This first Niinamesai is in particular called Daijōsai（大嘗祭）. Daijōsai is the most important among all imperial rituals. In Daijōsai, first the Emperor offers the newly harvested rice to Amaterasu-ōmikami. Then, he consumes the offered sacred rice. Through this ritual, the new Emperor is united with Amaterasu-ōmikami, which makes him qualified to succeed the throne and to become the great Shinto priest.
3 Japan : One Civilization, One Dynasty
This year, 2012, marks the 1,300th anniversary since the compilation of Kojoki（古事記 Record of Ancient Matters）. Japanese mythology and legends are included in Kojiki Japan has one independent civilization, which is different from Western and Chinese civilization. The most famous Chinese ancient chronicle(史記 Siki,87B.C.) begins with the history of the first emperor. In contrast, Kojiki starts with the chapter intentionally describing the stories of deities. The reason behind this is that at that time the imperial court aimed to establish distinct civilization from Chinese civilization.
As a result, Japan has maintained a single dynasty throughout the history of more than two thousand years, while the world has been witnessing innumerable dynasties’ processes of prospering and declining. In terms of existence of the unbroken imperial line, one certainly can see the uniqueness of the Japanese civilization.
The Japanese myth is alive and practiced still now. The current Emperor is considered to be a descendent of Amaterasu-ōmikami.
As an example of comparison, ruins of ancient civilization are found in Greece. Nonetheless, no rituals dedicated to gods of Greek mythology are performed any more. Greek is now a country of Christianity. You cannot find descendant of Agamemunon, presumed great-grandson of Zeus, the central figure of the Greek myth.
4 Ise Grand Shrines and Eternity
Ise Grand Shrines in Mie Prefecture are the most revered and important Shinto Shrines in Japan where Amaterasu-ōmikami is enshrined. When her grandson descended from Heaven to earth with sacred rice, he also brought the holy mirror (八咫鏡 Yata-no-Kagami) that Amaterasu-ōmikami had given to him.
This holy mirror kept in Ise Grand Shrines is worshiped as the divine body representing Amaterasu-ōmikami. The grand rite of reconstruction is conducted in Ise Grand Shrines every twenty years（式年遷宮 Sikinen-sengū）. This rite was initiated in 688A.D. Hōryūji Temple（法隆寺） in Nara Prefecture is well known as the most ancient wooden architecture in the world. Hōryūji was built in 607A.D. This means that despite the ability of building lasting architecture, the ancient Japanese intentionally chose to rebuild Ise Grand Shrines every twenty years. Europeans constructed their ancient shrines and temples with stones; thus, they were durable. That is one way to reach eternity. Japanese selected a different way to reach eternity. Through the traditional way of rebuilding Ise Grand Shrines every twenty years, Japanese intended to maintain ancient skills, forms, and faith forever.
5 The Meaning of the festival of rice harvest or Niinamesai in Japan As aforesaid, eating is not just a physical activity, but also a spiritual one. Traditionally, before eating, Japanese say “Itadakimasu（いただきます）”, which means gratitude for being given life of deities. Unfortunately, these days people tend to lose true meaning of having meal. Deities bestowed us food as their sacred gift, and they allow us to live. We should be grateful for blessings of the deities. Hence, today, it is necessary to re-recognize the meaning of the festival of rice harvest in Japan.
Author: Hitoshi Nitta
天皇弥栄
日本国万歳
