S14·E15 – Yamaguchi, Hofu Tenmangu Shrine

2023-04-28 • 30 min

Actions coming soon

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Once a year, the shrine holds a “Doll Thanksgiving Festival,” where dolls are taken in and purged. During the festival, people come one after another to drop off their dolls and stuffed animals. A father brings in his daughter's dolls after she leaves home for marriage; an old man comes to deliver his grandson's May dolls, which he has displayed for 30 years. Some people say goodbye to dolls they made themselves as part of their training to become a bride. Each doll is filled with wishes and thoughts. What thoughts do they have when they say goodbye? We listen to their voices.