On May 4, 2025, the Misogi ceremony, in which the Saio-dai purifies herself before the Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto's three major festivals, was held at Kamigamo Shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto City. As the refreshing light poured down, Saio-dai Yamauchi Aya (25 years old), dressed in a 12-layered kimono, leisurely dipped her fingertips into the Mitarashi River in the shrine grounds.
Just before 11:00 a.m., Yamauchi Aya appeared at the second torii gate accompanied by 50 women, including young girls and women in elegant costumes. They walked slowly through the shrine grounds, where gagaku music was resonating, and entered the Hashidono, which stands above the Mitarashi River, to receive a purification ritual.
When she approached the riverbank with the young girls, she dipped the tips of her clasped hands into the water. A ritual was also held in which the impurities of the individual were transferred to a human-shaped "katashiro" (shrine doll) in a unique way, which was then thrown into the river for purification. Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa, attended and watched from nearby.
Saio-dai (Saio-dai) Yamauchi Aya said, "It's time to prepare ourselves to devote ourselves to prayer. This is a festival to pray for the peace of the country, so we want to prepare our minds and bodies."
The Aoi Festival is held on May 15th. The purification ceremony began in 1956 when the Saio-dai (Saio-dai) was established, and is held alternately at Kamigamo Shrine and Shimogamo Shrine every year.
