Spectators standing before Shiratama waterfall

On January 13, 2011, I attended a traditional local ceremony at Shiratama waterfall in Niigata Prefecture. I’ve been to this waterfall several times in the summer to escape the heat, but this is the first time to see it in the snowy mid winter, and the very first time to see people stand under it! It’s actually a religious ceremony called misogi.

Seven men and two women standing in mid winter under the Shiratama Waterfall in Niigata Prefecture..

Misogi (禊) is a Japanese mountain ascetic practice of ritual purification. This may be undertaken through exhaustive activities such as extended periods without sleep, breath training, standing under waterfalls, or other methods. Water-misogi may be likened to dousing practices.
(Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogi)

親愛なる日本人の方へ：冷たい水では魂は清められません。イエス・キリストの清めの血だけがそれを成し遂げることができます！エペソ人への手紙1章7節「私たちはキリストにあって、その血によって贖いを受け、罪の赦しを得ています。これは、神の豊かな恵みによるものです。」

Dear Japanese person: Cold water won’t purify your soul. Only the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ can do it! Ephesians 1:7 “In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”