"With the Divine Spirit of Asahi Hanasaki."

Hello, everyone. Let me start with a quick question: Have you ever heard the term “Onikku” ? Today, I’d like to dedicate this post to the concept of Onikku . In modern Jinja Shinto, there is a support system within many shrines known as the “Onikku-ko” or “Onikku-kai.” ### What is the Onikku System?   Essentially, it is a mutual support system where members contribute small amounts of money to cover the cost of the Omike (sacred food offerings)—such as rice, sake, and grains—that are presented to the deities every single day. While the contribution amount varies depending on the shrine, the average is roughly 5,000 yen per person per year . If you break that down into a daily cost, it’s only about 13 to 14 yen a day . I am personally very fond of this tradition. It allows us to participate in a ritual of gratitude for the "bountiful harvest"—the very foundation of our economy—by offering fresh rice, water, and sake to the divine. The Original "Investment Fund"? I...

Shrine maidens cleaning the grounds of the shrine Hello. When we speak of "conscience," most of us—myself included—tend to view it through the lens of duality: good versus evil, or a "good heart" versus a "bad heart." However, upon deeper reflection, it seems that conscience is something that transcends this simple binary. We often hear phrases like, "It is important to act according to one’s conscience," or "If you consult your conscience, you will understand." But if conscience were not something universal, shared by everyone, then individual differences would arise, and we would eventually lose sight of what "conscience" truly is. It may sound as if I am studying for a legal exam, but my point is this: I believe conscience is not merely a tool for judging whether an event is "right" or "wrong." To me, it feels like something far more simple, rustic, and pure. To put it simply, I understand it as a "...

  Hello, everyone. I have written about the youth of today on this blog before. In society, we often hear people grumbling about "young people these days," but there is no need to worry. People have been saying the exact same thing since the era of Ancient Egypt, so we don't need to pay it any mind. When I look at the youth today, I am genuinely impressed by how many remarkable individuals there are. They are polite, kind, and seem to possess very little ego or greed. I have great expectations that the current teenagers, as they enter their twenties, will become the force that leads the world forward. I am not joking; I truly believe this. This generation does not know much luxury, nor do they seem interested in social status. Furthermore, many of these children have experienced or witnessed the gap between the rich and the poor. Even if they haven't experienced it personally, they have a visceral sense of the reality around them—seeing friends who cannot afford schoo...

祈りの矢よ飛んで行け 鈴の音響かせいま放たれよ Hello. I have written before on this blog about how science, religion, agriculture, medicine, and even economics were originally objects of faith. Even if we forget this fact, it is imprinted in our DNA. It is as if the vast records of experiences lived by our countless ancestors possess the ability to resurface within us at any given moment. It is difficult to put into words, but I believe you have experienced that sensation where something "clicks" or settles deep in your core, even if you cannot explain why. When we consider that the records of experiences from an unimaginable history are transmitted instantaneously to us, their descendants, it feels truly profound. The foundation of this immense record—our DNA—is rooted in "Wa" (Harmony). When we deviate from this harmony, a natural force works to pull us back toward it. I feel that thanks to the countless ancestors who lived before us, we are able to experience various things and take i...

Title:  The System of "Wa": Rescuing the Self Through Divine Wisdom The Great Premise: Self-Reliance In this world, no matter who you are, the only person who can truly save you is yourself. Not parents, not siblings—only you. It sounds cold, perhaps even harsh. But do not despair just yet. The Minor Premise: Divine Wisdom We are the only beings gifted by the Creator with the wisdom to create "Something" from "Nothing." This isn't knowledge from books; it is wisdom that wells up from within. The Conclusion: The System of "Wa" (Harmony) When we apply this inner wisdom, we save not only ourselves but others as well. This is the "System of Wa." Think of water. It exists as solid ice, liquid water, and invisible vapor. Everything in this physical world (the "Visible") is born from the "Invisible" (the Void). We humans are the same. We are children of the Divine, temporary physical vessels carrying an eternal spiri...

Title:  Beyond the Sky: The Young Souls of the Kamikaze and Their Final Letters In my previous post, I wrote about the young trainees of "Yokaren" (Preparatory Flight Experience), boys aged 14 to 17 who entered training with the almost certain expectation of joining the Kamikaze special attack corps. Today, I would like to write about what happened after they graduated from Yokaren, joined the special attack units, and finally made their sorting flights. While many Yokaren graduates ended up joining the special attack corps, the units were fully organized in October 1944. Triggered by the U.S. military's landing operations on Leyte Island, the Imperial General Headquarters issued the "Sho-Go" (Victory) Operation. At the Mabalacat airfield in the Philippines, 13 pilots, centered around the 10th graduating class, volunteered themselves. They formed four units as the first official Kamikaze Special Attack Corps. Those four units were named Shikishima , Yamato , Asa...

Exhibited at the Chiran Peace Museum.   Artist: Katsuyoshi Nakaya 【Title】 The Teenage Kamikaze Pilots: Remembering the "Yokaren" and the Bond with Their Mothers ■ Introduction Hello. The other day, I visited Makata Shrine in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. This is the place where the famous "Hifumi Shinji" (revelations) were received. On my way back, as I was driving to neighboring Ibaraki Prefecture for work and passing through a town called Ami, a certain memory came back to me. It was about the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps, which I have been researching since around 2008. Ami Town in Ibaraki was once the site of the "Yokaren" (Naval Aviator Preparatory Course), where young boys aged 14 to 17 were trained with the expectation of joining the special attack units. My own great-uncle was one of these trainees, entering the corps and facing the end of the war just days before his scheduled sortie. Today, I want to write about these pure-hearted trainees who ...

祈りの矢よ飛んでゆけ　鈴の音響かせいま放たれよ。 Oh, arrows of prayer, fly forth. With the chiming of bells resounding, be released now.　 【Title】 The Hell Seen by 15-Year-Old Girls: What the Tragedy of Okinawa’s "Himeyuri Students" Teaches Us Today ■ Introduction Have you ever heard of the "Himeyuri" or the "Himeyuri Student Corps"? Decades ago, young girls who were the same age as today’s high school students were thrust into the middle of a brutal land battle in Japan. "Why did such young, innocent girls have to become victims of war?" "Why were they forced to join a military-like organization?" I believe that asking these simple yet fundamental questions is the first step toward understanding the true preciousness of life. ■ Who Were the "Himeyuri Students"? On March 23, 1945, the U.S. military began its invasion of Okinawa. Students from 21 secondary schools in Okinawa were mobilized for the war effort. Among them were female students aged just 1...

📘 Vol. 2 Title (English) "Science Only Understands 1%!? The Illusion Created by Logic and the Importance of Thinking for Yourself" ■ What is "Koshinto" (Ancient Shinto)? Ultimately, Koshinto boils down to two simple things: Nature Worship : Expressing gratitude to the Great Nature—the sun, the moon, the mountains, and the seas. Ancestor Veneration : Remembering and honoring our ancestors. That is all. It requires no complex knowledge or large sums of money. Simply remembering a forgotten loved one in your heart is a beautiful act of memorial. We are alive today because countless ancestors existed before us. And yet, why is it that we are becoming unable to notice and appreciate the Nature and ancestors that are always there for us? ■ The "Illusion" Created by Logic and Theories Originally, agriculture, science, religion, medicine, law, and philosophy were all subjects of faith—they were all interconnected as one. However, we humans began to interpret the...

[Series] Vol. 1: Did the Real Meaning of "Wa" Actually Mean "God"? The Spirit Dwelling in Objects and the Heart of Japan 　Hello there! Out of the blue, how do you feel when you hear the phrase, "Japan is the land of Wa (harmony)"? Actually, the true meaning of this word " Wa " is " God. " You might be thinking, "Uh, what are you talking about today?" But please bear with me for a moment. ■ The Abundance of " Wa " All Around Us In Japan, there are countless words that start with " Wa ." Washitsu (traditional Japanese rooms) Wafuku (traditional Japanese clothing / kimono) Washoku (traditional Japanese food) There are so many examples that it's impossible to count them all. Moreover, traditional Japanese goods and souvenirs characterized by this style of " Wa " are incredibly popular among tourists visiting Japan from abroad. ■ Why " Wamono " (Japanese Goods) Are Masterpieces No mat...

Title: The Spell of "Individualism" and the Heart of Mutual Aid Hello.  In recent years, I feel that I have been hearing the word "individualism" echoing around us more and more frequently. However, it seems to me that very few people truly understand the real meaning of this word. As those who read this blog probably know, I am primarily involved in the protection and maintenance of a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple. Since I cannot make a living solely by protecting the shrine and temple, I also work as a delivery driver. The maintenance of shrines and temples can be broadly divided into three categories—you could also call them the "three pillars." The first is the maintenance of worship facilities, such as the Omiya (Inner Sanctuary) and the main hall. The second is the care for the shrine parishioners ( Ujiko ), temple supporters ( Danka ), and general visitors. And the third is the preservation of the shrine and temple as a whole. It is not a mat...