Decorations set out in front of the ritual site.

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Komokuten 広目天

One of the Four Heavenly Kings who protect the Dharma.

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The service starts when the temple's clerics enter the ritual site. They are led by a priest with an inkin, or bell.

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Another priest plays a "sho," a kind of mouth organ made from bamboo.

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Fisheye view of the service. The priests chant prayers around an image of the Buddha and a special altar that contains a smaller statue of the newly born Siddharta Gautama. The round object in the foreground contains the Buddha's footprints. Prior to the intermingling of Hellenic iconographic methods and Indian Buddhist ideas, believers represented the Buddha in this fashion.

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One of the participating clerics.

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The head officiant casts decorated paper lotus petals.

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Kesa worn by one of the clerics.

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Kesa worn by one of the participants.

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Once the service is over, lay participants are invited to pour sweetened tea over the image of Siddharta.

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The Buddha's feet.

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The cherry tree located in front of the hall dedicated to Daikokuten.

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