January 20, 2025 is Daikan, one of the twenty-four divisions of the Japanese calendar. It is said to be the coldest day of the year, but the lowest temperature in Kyoto City on this day was 6.4°C (according to the Kyoto Regional Meteorological Observatory), making it a warm morning like early April.
At Jonan-gu Shrine in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, a "Yutate Kagura" dance was held, in which boiling water is scattered to ward off evil spirits. It is said that when worshippers are splashed with the hot water, they will be rid of misfortune. Jonan-gu Shrine temporarily suspended the dance after the war, but it was revived in 1979 and is held every year on January 20.
On this day, four shrine maidens (miko) performed the "Ogi no Mai" (fan dance) and "Bell no Mai" (bell dance) in the worship hall, holding fans and bells. In front of the worship hall, shrine maidens wearing sashes poured sacred sake and rice into a large pot of hot water in the "Shakutori no Gi" (scoop-taking ceremony). In the "Bamboo Dance" that followed, bamboo leaves soaked in a large cauldron were vigorously swung with both hands to scatter the hot water and drive away evil spirits. As white steam rose, worshippers were showered with the splashing drops and steam and prayed for good health.
The "lucky bamboo" used in the ritual is said to bring good fortune to those who take it home. When the ritual ended, a long line of worshippers formed to take home a lucky bamboo.
