The sabot-like shoes worn by the Shinto priests at Meiji Shrine are called "asa-gutsu”
There is a wedding rush at Meiji Jingu Shrine on weekends. As I stood in the open space in front of the shrine, brides and grooms appeared and disappeared. This is called the "procession" ceremony. The bride and groom in kimono look very beautiful as they walk forward, dominated by their crimson parasols. Not only the bride and groom, but also the priests who lead the procession are dressed in old-fashioned clothes not usually seen in the city, and even I, a native of Japan, feel a sense of the extraordinary.
From a modern human perspective, the priests' attire looks like it would be difficult for them to move. However, this was the dress worn by court nobles from the Heian period (794-1185) as their daily attire, and it was also worn while hunting. If one were to hunt in such a conspicuous outfit, one might easily get caught in a tree branch, and one's prey might easily sense one's presence, making it seem impractical, but perhaps that is just the way modern people feel. The priests dressed in such old-fashioned clothes also wore old-fashioned shoes on their feet. These shoes, which resemble European wooden shoes, are called "asa gutsu". You wonder if it is possible to run with these shoes.
| Oct 2024 IN THE CITY TOKYO | |
| CEREMONY HARAJUKU MEIJI JINGU PRIEST SHRINE |
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PHOTO DATA
No
12674
Shooting Date
May 2024
Posted On
October 13, 2024
Modified On
October 14, 2024
Place
Harajuku, Tokyo
Genre
Street Photography
Camera
SONY ALPHA 7R V
Lens
ZEISS BATIS 2/40 CF
