In addition to trying to make the event "international," they are also trying to use it to show how "eco" they are. (Being "eco," as in ecologically friendly, is a big boom in Japan right now...) To give you an idea of what the ritual and their "eco" idea is about, here is an exerpt from the English program they gave out:
"Tsurugaoka Hachimangu attempts to improve the environment in the precinct and preserve the native ecosystem. Our idea is that we can preserve or even restore the environment not only destruct. We have dealt with a challenge to improve the water quality in the precinct, so that native creatures could live in our precinct"
--OK...so far sounds like a good idea...might want to get a thesaurus next time though...can we lay off all the "precincts" please?
"The ritual is took place at Yanagihara Shinchi (柳原神池, literally Sacred pond at willow field). We tried to improve the water quality and clarity by native percolation system which uses charcoals and stones. As summer coming, fireflies are starting to hatch and flying around the pond and stream."
--OK...hillarious grammar mistakes aside, it is great to try and improve the water quality and all...but the actual reason there are fireflies there are because YOU breed them in captivity and then release them (hence the name of the ritual) over the pond!
"The ritual of firefly release is held to recognize the preciousness of life and seasons' passing, and to thank our deities for giving our life and daily bread.
"On the ritual, fireflies are dedicated to our deities at once, with Kagura and accompaniment of Gagaku the thank for blessing to the life growing. After that, fireflies are released to the pond by the priests.
"This is a fantastic view that fireflies are flying around clear water in the twilight shade."
--Just so you know, kagura and gagaku are names of the ancient court music and dance they perform, that apparently mean "the thank for blessing to the life growing"?
Anyway, seeing the ritual with the priests dressed in traditional Heian period costume and the music was pretty interesting and almost felt like being transported into a scene from the Tale of Genji or something...if there were an entire elementary school, four "Miss Kamakuras" in suits and top hats, and hundreds of people taking flash photography in Twelfth Century Japan, that is.
Once the initial ceremony was over, the priests carried the bags containing the fireflies to the pond and released them, after all of us onlookers had been ushered to viewing places around the pond. The little buggers were quite pretty once they were all flying around and the lights at the shrine were cut to provide total darkness.
Then, we were escorted into the reception hall, quite pushily I might add, because the "commoners" who were not special guests invited by the shrine had to wait behind a fence for us to see the fireflies and go inside before they were allowed to walk around the pond. That's right, unwashed masses: you wait till I'm done! Awesome!
The head priest gave a speech thanking the embassy representatives for coming and explaining a bit about the ritual and the shrines "eco" efforts. This was accompanied by a translator, who was soooooo good that she neglected to thank the Egyptian embassy, only listed 2 out of the 3 reasons why this ritual is "important" (one of which was so that "we can tell the children how important life is because fireflies die in one week"), could not pronounce the word "environment" to save her life, and translated "kampai!" as "kampai!" (the correct answer would be "cheers") ...and, why don't I have a job translating in Japan...?
After the speach, it was time to eat! The reception hall was filled with tables laden with vast amounts of delicacies. Really, the only way I can describe it, because I have never been to an event with such posh food! There was fried chicken and pork, sushi, lobster, jellyfish, kobe beef carpaccio, fresh cherries and melon (fruit is very expensive in Japan), and other high end party food, plus all the beer, sake, and whiskey you could drink. We ate as much as we could, but when we finally left (we were the last to go), there was a ton of food left. Way to be "eco" guys...laying out so much food that you are now throwing away half of it...at least give us a doggy bag or something!
Well, they did give us a omiyage bag containing a wooden placard with a mouse painted on it (for the year of the rat), Japanese sweets, a DVD about Hachimangu and its many festivals (...thanks?), AND a container with live fireflies for us to bring home. Now they get to live out their short, 7 day long lives in captivity in my room! Wow, what an awesome gift that completely supports the concept you are trying to promote...
Aside from (or because of?) some ridiculousness though, all in all it was a fun time...and I have never felt so important, getting all that food and those gifts for free!
The contents of my goody bag.
The Japanese sweets: called hotaru ("firefly"), they are made of mochi filled with redbean paste with bits of yellow stuff to make it look like fireflies lit up at night! Very cute, and delicious.
Video I took of the event...I didn't have a very clear view over the heads of people in front of me so I didn't film the middle of the ceremony...First, the priests come in and the West and East sides are blessed. (skip the main part) Next the procession exits carrying bags filled with the fireflies. Finally, the bugs are released over the pond. The music in the background is the traditional court music mentioned earlier.
