Mie is centrally located in Japan along the Pacific Ocean. Long and narrow stretching north to south, it is a place where one can enjoy nature in all four seasons. Its geography is quite varied with both mountains for skiing, and beaches where subtropical plants grow.
Mie is also home to the Ise Grand Shrines, often called the birthplace of the Japanese spirit. From long ago, it flourished as a place used by Japan to interact with the rest of the world, and today welcomes many visitors from overseas.
"Umashi Kuni (Beautiful Mie)''
According to the Nihon Shoki, or Chronicles of Japan, almost 2000 years ago, the Sun Goddess, an important Shinto deity, remarked to the Emperor's daughter, "This divine place called Ise is washed over with waves of eternal prosperity. Next to Yamato, it is a beautiful and pleasant land. In this land I wish to dwell." Blessed with the gifts from the ocean and mountains, and known as an ideal place to live, Mie was called "Umashikuni" from long ago. People in Mie often use the phrase “okagesama” to express their gratitude to the sun, moon and earth for providing the plentiful fields, sea and mountains in their prefecture.
Shikinen Sengu Ceremony in the Ise Grand Shrines
At this very moment at the Ise Grand Shrines, preparation for the Shikinen Sengu is underway.
Preparation for the ceremony can take over eight years, and includes rebuilding the shrines, changing the costumes and all the materials inside the shrines, and moving the container which houses the Shinto gods.
The first ceremony occured in the year 690 and has reguarly occured every 20 years for the last 1300 years. The latest ceremony occured in 2003 and the next one will occur in 2013. . Local communities are looking forward to this event as an opportunity to promote development and awareness of local efforts with increased publicity both inside and outside of the prefecture.
Kumano Kodo
(UNESCO World Heritage Site)
The shrines, temples and pilgrimage routes such as the Kumano Kodo that are found straddling the edges of Mie, Wakayama and Nara prefectures were collectively registered as “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” by UNESCO as a world heritage site on July 7, 2004.
Kumano Kodo was popular with pilgrims as it connected Ise (home of the Ise Grand Shrines), Kyoto, and the three main shrines in Kumano. The sight of many pilgrims making pilgrimage down these narrow mountain paths was called “The Pilgrimage of the Ants”. The stone paths that remain will forever serve as a reminder of the faith the pilgrims had.
Mie is the birthplace of the Japanese custom of praying to gods that lived in the forests and mountains as a sign of respect to the universe and nature as they began in Ise and Kumano.
Current Topics in Mie
Rhythmic Gynmastics has steadily been growing more and more popular here Japan. Since the Rhthymic World Cup held in Mie in 2006, the number of students at the junior high and elementary level has increased by about 30 percent since that event. (Based on a survey conducted in September 2007).
