Today in Japan is the last day ever of the Heisei era. It is a historic moment and the first time in my life I am experiencing a change of the Imperial era! It is very exciting. The Heisei era will always be an era that will feel close to me; being my birth era as I was born on Heisei 5, or 1993.
The past 31 years of Heisei have been said to be very disastrous; but despite this I think it has also shown the great strength of people as a whole โ not only in Japan, but the whole world over. Despite all that has happened, we have become more global, more connected, growing more in our thoughts and evolution faster than ever before. And while there is still many troubles and ails, there is also as much love, strength, and community as well.
As I look back on my whole lifetime, all I’ve known is this era; so I’m very much looking forward to and even energized by the upcoming Reiwa era. The energy feels very new, very fresh, very uplifting, and I pray the next years of Reiwa will be wondrous – signifying of a new dawn and evolution for all of us to embody, cultivate, and work towards.
In Japan, the Emperor has been doing the traditional rites and ceremonies to announce to Amaterasu Omikami, the other Amatsukami (heavenly kami), and the ancestral Imperial kami, that he had abdicated and is transitioning the throne to his son the (now) Crown Prince Naruhito, soon to be Emperor Naruhito.
I truly pray for the next Emperor and Empress to have a full life of health, happiness, stability, and care for all of Japan and all those who are are living in Japan.
This time is very special – the rites and ceremonies performed are very sacred and important, and tied to Japanese history since the ancient times โ one could even say the Kamiyo times, age of the kami and mythological stories.
The Three Sacred Treasures are also present symbols during this ceremonial time, as they have been tied to the Imperial family and ruling since ancient times. But what are the Three Sacred Treasures? You likely have read or heard about them during this time from various news articles. But if not, they are:
Yasakani no Magatama, the sacred magatama jewel necklace created by Ame no Karutama no Mikoto
Yata no Kagami, the sacred mirror created by Ishikoridome no Mikoto
Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi (later called as Kusanagi no Tsurugi), the sacred sword found in the tail of Yamata no Orochi, gifted to Amaterasu Omikami by her brother Susanoo no Mikoto.
The Yasakani no Magatama and Yata no Kagami date back to the myth of Ama no Iwato, and Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi is connected to the story as well. In the Ama no Iwato myth, Amaterasu Omikami, due to the actions of Susanoo no Mikoto, hides away in the cave Ama no Iwato out of deep grief and mourning. The other Amatsukami (Heavenly kami) banish Susanoo no Mikoto to Izumo, where he later battles with Yamata no Orochi and retrieves the sacred sword.
As Susanoo no Mikoto was banished, the Amatsukami needed to come up with a plan to bring Amaterasu Omikami from out of the cave. Futodama no Mikoto performed divination via Futomani (reading cracks in deer shoulder bones or tortoiseshell) to find out what to do. Ame no Koyane no Mikoto wrote and chanted a norito prayer to pray for her to come out.
Ishikoridome no Mikoto created the Yata no Kagami mirror, and Ame no Karutama no Mikoto created the Yasakani no Magatama jewel necklace, and hung them both on a sakaki tree with silk in front of the cave, as per the divination revealed by Futodama no Mikoto instructed.
Unfortunately, this ritual did not work entirely until Ame no Uzume no Mikoto decided to dance! She turned over a washtub, and began dancing, bearing her chest. The commotion, laughter, and joy caused Amaterasu Omikami to peek from the cave, upon where she saw her reflection in Yata no Kagami. This surprised her, and in this moment of shock, Ame no Tajikarao no Mikoto pulled her from the cave, bringing light back to the world.
Long after this event, and after the slaying of Yamata no Orochi in Izumo, Susanoo no Mikoto returned to Takamagahara (realm of the Amatsukami) to gift the sword Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi to Amaterasu Omikami as an apology. Thus, the jewel, Yasakani no Magatama, the mirror, Yata no Kagami, alongside the sword, Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi became the three sacred treasures of Amaterasu Omikami and the Amatsukami as a whole.
Eventually, the time came time that Amaterasu Omikami and Takamimusubi no Kami wished for the Amatsukami to have dominion over the Toyo Ashihara no Mizuho no Kuni โ Central Land of the Reed Plains, or essentially, Earth, our world. This is the myth called Kuniyuzuri and the various interactions between the Amatsukami and Kunitsukami (Earthly kami) and Amaterasu Omikami and Ookuninushi Okami about dominion of the Earth. Eventually, Ookuninushi Okami, the leader of the Kunitsukami, agreed to transfer the land to Amaterasu Omikami’s grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto
As Ninigi no Mikoto went to rule the land, Amaterasu Omikami gifted him The Three Sacred Treasures โ the sword, the mirror, and the jewel. She told him that the sword was to protect him, the jewel signifies his right to rule, and the mirror is her โ her sacred vessel, and reminder of the connection of the Imperial family to her and all the Amatsukami โ that she and all the Amatsukami will always help to guide him and protect him, as well as all of the land, and people who live on the land.
This is why, to this day, despite after an ancient, tumultuous, and tough history – the three sacred treasures are still passed down and acknowledged in each ritual of the new Emperor and Empress. As a reminder and tradition of this sacred history. I feel it is very beautiful that this tradition has been honored and kept since ancient times, and acknowledgement and respect still given to Amaterasu Omikami, the Amatsukami, and the Imperial ancestral kami.
I want to write about it in more detail in the following days, as well as about the rites. However, since the New Year our shrine has been so busy, everyone is praying for a good new era and future, as many hopes lay in Reiwa.
I also am hoping and praying for a wonderful new era โ soon it will be our Spring Grand Ceremony at the shrine too, and I’m looking forward to celebrating and new beginnings!
My own sacred treasures I offer at my shrine to Tenchi Kane no Kami-sama on their altar
Happy Reiwa era! I’m praying for happiness, health, stability, and blessings!
Living With Kami 