Dozens of worshippers wearing only loincloths and bathrobes with headbands and facemasks plunged themselves into icy waters as part of a traditional ritual in Tokyo on Sunday, in which they also prayed for an end to the pandemic.

Three women, who donned white robes, and handfuls of men in loincloths chanted, clapped and prayed before bathing in the freezing waters filed with blocks of ice as part of a Shinto ritual at Teppou-zu Inari Shrine. 

Similar scenes took place last year during the annual event, which has been scaled down due to the ongoing situation.








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Daring dozens: Worshippers wearing only loincloths, bathrobes and facemasks plunged themselves into icy waters in Tokyo





The traditional Shinto ritual - which involves bathing in icy water - takes place every year at Teppou-zu Inari Shrine in Tokyo 





Known as Misogi, the ritual comprises bathers entering icy water and washing the whole body for the purpose of purification 





This year's event has been scaled back compared to early 2020 when a hundred participants took part in the ritual ceremony





Donned in white robes, loincloths and masks, participants chanted, clapped and prayed before entering the freezing waters 





The ritual took place during the coldest month of the year in Tokyo, where temperatures average lows of 3 degrees Celsius





A participant splashes icy cold water into his face as part of the Misogi ritual held on Sunday at the Teppou-zu Inari Shrine

This compares to more than a hundred participants in early 2020, before coronavirus became a global crisis.




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The ritual took place during the coldest month of the year in Tokyo, where temperatures average between lows of 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) and highs of 49 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius).

Known as Misogi, the ritual comprises washing the whole body for the purposes of purification.




Held on the second Sunday of each year, on this latest occasion the event had the added theme of 'warding off epidemics'





The wider public was not invited to attend the traditional ritual as Japan  attempts to curb the spread of coronavirus 





The worshippers line up and stop in thoughtful prayer before entering into the the waters filled with large ice blocks 

Held on the second Sunday of each year, on this latest occasion the event had the added theme of 'warding off epidemics'.

'I hope that soon the world and coronavirus pandemic calm down and everyone will be able to move freely,' said participant Yoshiko Shibada after completing the Misogi ritual. 




Wearing face masks, CNC-Fräsmaschinen gebraucht the participants clasped their hands together and continued to chant and pray in the freezing water





Men and women took part in the ceremony, which is traditionally held to purify the soul and pray for health in the new year 





The ceremony took place against the stunning background of the centuries-old Teppou-zu Inari Shrine in Tokyo





Praying for good health: Dozens of participants took to the freezing water to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic





The participants clench their hands together in front of their stomach and shake them up and down as part of 'spirit shaking'





The purpose of 'spirit shaking' in the ceremony is said to help participants become more aware of their spirits within





The practice involves reciting prayers and incantations that help dispel any impurities from a person's body and mind

In recent days, Japan has reintroduced restrictions on bar and restaurant opening times in three areas as it attempts to stem a surge in coronavirus cases linked to US military bases.

The restrictions have been brought into effect for a month in Okinawa and parts of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi.

Infections have also been on the rise in larger cities, including Tokyo, which reported 922 new cases on Friday - the highest since mid-September.




Participants prayed for an end to coronavirus, which has begun to surge in cities again across Japan in recent weeks





The participants were quite animated as they chanted, clapped and prayed shortly before plunging into the freezing water





The worshippers chanted and made the same movements, including this rowing action, as part of the traditional ceremony





A handful of women worshippers donned in white robes took part in the ceremony, held at the centuries-old shrine in Tokyo





Dozens of participants clasped their hands together and shook them up and down as they took part in the Shinto ceremony





After bathing in the waters, the participants continued to pray for the purification of their spirits and renewed good health





A large block of ice floats in the bathing pool used by dozens of worshippers as part of the purification ceremony on Sunday





The worshippers threw their arms into the air as they chanted prayers and incantations to purify their spirits and body





Worshippers row their arms back and forth as they take part in the traditional purification ceremony in Tokyo on Sunday





Participants took part in the annual ceremony, which has been held for decades at Teppou-zu Inari Shrine in Tokyo





Some of the movements were more similar to exercise than prayer during the centuries-old Misogi ritual held on Sunday





Moment of reflection: This year's ceremony had added poignancy as worshippers prayed to end the coronavirus pandemic





The worshippers took part in 'spirit shaking', which involves moving the hands and arms up and down rigorously in the water





Hands together now: The worshippers focused on prayer as they asked for purification and renewed health in the new year 





Dipping a toe in the water: The first of participants tentatively feels the temperature of the icy cold water before entering





Prayer to end coronavirus: This year's ceremony asked for an end to the pandemic as Japan faces a resurgence of the virus





Head down in prayer: One participant takes a moment to reflect before taking a bath in the freezing cold waters in Tokyo





One Shinto believer poses with a child following his traditional bath in the freezing waters during the New Year ritual





Prayer for good health: The participants wore face coverings and headbands with their loincloths for their traditional bath





Dozens of participants followed a ceremony leader at the front and mimicked his chants and movements throughout





Warming thoughts: The traditional ceremony is intended to purify a person's body, mind and spirit for the new year ahead





The prayers were all the more poignant this year as new infections in Japan surged from 200 to 4,000 daily on average

Across Japan, new infections exceeded 4,000 on Thursday, compared with an average of 200 a day last month. 

Omicron has now been identified in 80 per cent of Japan's 47 prefectures. 


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