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Praying for a good year

33 Comments

Businesspeople offer prayers at the start of the new business year at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo on Tuesday. Kanda Myojin is known as the shrine of commerce and industry.

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33 Comments
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Great pic! However, it must have felt weird taking this picture from that position.

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smepefi, i was just about to type that very comment this miracle "wind" ain't coming either

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I hope that's not their only strategy...

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Hmmmmmm ? What about health, love & thankfulness for last year ? I guess giving thanks is not that important anymore ?

I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR LAST YEAR ! ! ! Everyday I give thanks

It's always about Money in Nippon. THE MONEY THING You can't tke it with you to the big unknown !!!!!

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One word- GREED

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disgusting!

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Should be a good year then, with all those business types praying. Is there an equivalent shrine in Osaka?

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Thanks whiskeysour and the others who followed. I was thinking the same things. I just can't understand praying for riches. In a capitalistic economy when one does well doesn't that mean that someone has to do poorly? It can't be escaped. As whiskeysour said, it's all about health, love and thankfulness."

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As whiskeysour said, it's all about health, love and thankfulness."

Yea. Unfortunately Japan is a different World. Money is God!

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well, i think every country think money is "God", but Japan has the honesty to say it, when other countries people try to pretend they are not interested in money ! (i am not japanese)

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One of the saddest pictures I have ever seen. "Man shall not live by bread alone."

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At least the shrine must have made pots of money out of that lot! Japanese "religion" is big business, and this picture proves it.

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seesaw2, can you name another country where money is not god? until then, u better sharpen ur J-bashing skills before taking cheap pot shots like that.

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Seems like many Japanese just pray as a formality. Making a 3 second prayer once a year will get you nowhere. If you really want happiness it's best to focus on what kind of person you want to be and what kind of life you want to have. And as others have mentioned, wake up every day being grateful for what you already have.

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For those of you that posted negative opinions about the Japanese praying for financial success, get off your pious soap boxes. How do you know these people weren't at another shrine on the 1st praying for all those other more important things. And where does it say or show that these men are praying for "riches". I am sure a lot of these men have families and financial success means providing for the needs of their loved ones. No, money is not the end all to happiness, but praying for financial success is not an evil thing.

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I agree with Johnnydesu.

Highly likely that they also visited other shrines. When I was working in Monaka there was a "company trip" to all the 7 shrines in the neighbour-hood after the New year.

There are many specialized shrines out there from childbirth up to getting nice boobs(not kidding), etc.

Shrines and temples here tend to drive when the economy is bad as many come to pray and donate, buy lucky charms, etc. Unless they get fake money in the donation box. :P

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A lot of good praying will do these greedy businesses. More like putting their fingers in the dike to stem the tide of hardship that will soon follow.

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I'm with Jonnydesu and Zenny here.. These people probably went to other shrines with their families on the New Year's Day to pray for the families' happiness and they probably brought their Omamori (charms) that they bought last year to the shrines to give them back to while thanking for protecting them and their families.

See these people all seem like business people?? That is because they are at the shrine that's famous for commerce and industry.

Makes me sad when I see comments that automatically bash Japan and its people without second thoughts.

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We need more than prayers, we need ideas and action. If you rely on the gods, you are at the end of the line.

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Umm - Good Luck

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can you name another country where money is not god? until then, u better sharpen ur J-bashing skills before taking cheap pot shots like that.

I meant Japanese says it openly that Money is their GOD. It wasn't meant to be some cheap pot shots..excuse me!

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I'm sorry I didn't know that money is also GOD in your Country....

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Many are praying for "peace and prosperity" for the New Year. Others are praying for their own particular situations (possibly).

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praying shows nothing but superstition and lack of knowledge on fundamental laws ruling our world. would you pray for a ball not to fall back down when thrown in the air? it's the same with these people, waste of resources and time. at least in japan they only do it couple of times a year at most...

and for those saying they're only praying for financial success to provide for the needs of their families, have you ever thought about why we need to pray just to have our basic needs met? why is such a fundamental human right as a right to life subject to financial "success"? if we all did more thinking and learning and far less praying and otherwise wishful thinking we could do much better for ourselves as a species.

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First, who says that people can only pray at ONE shrine during New Year? In Shinto, there are several deities or spirits (not 'Gods'), and Japanese often pray at more than one. For the simpletons here who suggest that money is 'God' to Japanese, it's time to educate yourselves more about Shinto and the Japanese people.

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Kanda Myojin is known as the shrine of commerce and industry

I guess some people (like whiskeysour) missed that part. They are coming HERE to pray for financial success because that's what THIS shrine is famous for. What do you think the millions of people who visited Meiji Jingu and Sensouji prayed for? That's right, health, luck, happiness, all that good stuff. Happy new year, all.

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I don't pray but I do own a small business. If we have a bad year then a bunch of nice people will get fired, and the same can be said about an awful lot of companies in the coming year. There are non-selfish reasons for praying for financial prosperity,.

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Bholder, there is a big difference between praying and wishful thinking. It is not like these people will leave this shrine and do nothing to try and better their lives. I agree that those who do nothing but rely solely on their prayers are fools, but people who add praying to whatever deity comforts them are not idiots. And just maybe if you threw a ball up into the air and prayed that you were able to catch it when it came back down that prayer may give you the confidence to help you accomplish that task. I am not a religious person, I am not saying that you should add prayer to your life, but these people are not causing any harm to world by these actions.

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Well...this is I do know: not one Japanese person I've ever known comments about the praying habits of other people. On the other hand, many other religions (especially self-righteous Christians) can't wait to fill out the report card on the quality and quantity of someone else's prayer and faith. If they spent as much time practicing what profess to believe, they might find themselves a little more tolerant (and quiet).

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If I was religious, I would pray for money. Instead I just worship money for what it is.

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Wow! Lots of criticism here!

One word: Greedy!

and "Disgusting"

Be careful. I personally agree that praying to these idols will make no difference, but I think it is being a little judgmental saying they are all greedy. Some may be and we are too at times. Some may be hurting financially. Some may need a job. Some may be in danger of losing their job. Why are we so quick to criticize? Japanese are people just like you and I. We all have the same struggles, needs, and although our faults are different depending on the person, we all have them too.

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Gurukun nailed it. Most posters: so freaking negative! Go to the local jinja and clap and bow your head. See what comes to your mind. Try it. Should be interesting.

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Business in Japan is going to need a miracle. Keep praying.

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