令和7年10月17日・祭主黒田清子様がご奉仕 – 伊勢神宮(内宮）神嘗祭 Japanese Emperor’s Sister at Ise Shrine (Kanname-sai Festival)

令和7年10月17日・祭主黒田清子様がご奉仕 – 伊勢神宮(内宮）神嘗祭 Japanese Emperor’s Sister at Ise Shrine (Kanname-sai Festival)

Today is October 17, 2025, and we have come to the Inner Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū). The Inner Shrine is commonly referred to as Naikū, although its official name is “Kōtai Jingū” . This horse is a “Shinme”. It is considered sacred in the Shinto religion. We have come here today to watch a ceremony known as “Hōhei”, which forms part of the ““Kanname-sai” Festival”. Kanname-sai is considered to be the most important harvest festival of the year. Its origins are said to date back to the reign of Emperor Suinin (29 BC to AD 70). Kanname-sai is a celebratory event, in which newly-harvested rice is offered to the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Ōmikami. This ritual is known as the Hōko. The drum beats announce that a major ceremony is about to begin. The main procession is now approaching the Torii gate, where a short purification ritual will take place. The plant that this priest is holding is called a “sakaki” (cleyera japonica). It is considered a sacred plant in the Shinto religion, The “sakaki” is shaken over people, objects and spaces in order to purify them. Here, another priest is sprinkling salt, which is used for purification purposes. The procession will now proceed to the main sanctuary, known as Shōgu, where the main “Hōhei” ceremony will take place. The lady dressed in red is Sayako Kuroda, the sister of Emperor Naruhito. She’s participating in today’s ceremony in her role as Supreme Priestess at Ise Shrine. The Supreme Priestess visits Ise Grand Shrine as the Emperor’s representative for major rituals, such as today’s “Kanname-sai” and “Tsukinami-sai”, which is held in June and December. The “Hōhei” ceremony in the Main Sanctuary (Shōgu) will take about one hour to complete. The procession is now approaching the Main Sanctuary (Shōgu). The Kanname-sai Festival is held between October 15 and 17 each year, to offer the first harvest of seasonal crops to the Shinto Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Ōmikami. The procession will ascend the stone steps to the Main Sanctuary (Shōgu), where filming and photography is strictly prohibited. It is now around 1.15 pm, and the “Hōhei” ceremony has just been completed. The procession makes its way back from the Main Sanctuary (Shōgu), led by a Shrine Guard (called “Eishi” or “Eshi”).

(令和7年10月17日) 黒田清子祭主がご奉仕 – 伊勢神宮(内宮）神嘗祭 奉幣の参進

The younger sister of Emperor Naruhito, Sayako Kuroda (formerly known as Princess Nori), participating in the “Kanname-sai” Festival (“Hōhei Ceremony) at Ise Grand Shrine, Inner Shrine (Naikū). She is an imperial Shinto priestess of the Grand Shrine, and currently serves as the Supreme Priestess.

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