Autumn is so deep now. The rice paddy harvested. It is time to say thank you. To generous nature. To the benevolent powers. The Emperor of Japan, spiritual link, offers the freshly harvested rice to Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and founder of the lineage of humans and gods. Gratitude, on behalf of the Japanese people, for the abundant harvest.
In Japan, rice and rituals have been intertwined since time immemorial. Because every grain of rice contains life. In November, Niinamesai, the festival of new crops, takes place. One of the most powerful rituals in the country, if ever there was one.
The mikado stands solemnly at the heart of the Ise sanctuary. This is where the deity resides. At the far eastern edge of the archipelago, where the sun rises first.