The Sun Goddess, Japan's founding deity, moved house last night in the most sacred rite of the ancient Shinto religion, Reuter reports from Ise. The ceremony at Ise, about 190 miles south-west of Tokyo, takes place once every 20 years, almost without exception since AD690, a living relic of the earliest days of Japanese history.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks