Hundreds attend COVID-modified New Year's Shinto blessing

January 1, 2021

Hundreds received a New Year's blessing at Dajingu Temple of Hawaii n Nu'uanu on Friday morning. KITV4's Diane Ako was part of the ceremony - dressed as a "miko" or traditional priestess - helping sweep out the bad luck, and hopefully welcome in good fortune for 2021.

Reverend Akihiro Okada thanked the people who braved the slightly inclement weather and the pandemic to come out, and noted that they must really be interested in boosting their luck in the new year. "They have a lot of spirit. I can't believe people are still coming with this difficult situation...

Sumo Coming — Well Almost — to Tokyo Olympics

February 4, 2020

Sumo is coming — well, almost coming — to the Tokyo Olympics.

Knowing it may have the world’s attention, the Japan Sumo Association and local Olympic organizers are planning a sumo tournament on Aug. 12-13, just days after the Olympics end.

The event was announced on Tuesday and is designed to bring more attention to the Japanese sport. It will be part of a local cultural festival and will take place at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, sumo’s spiritual home in east Tokyo.

Event organizers say the tournament will give visitors from overseas an opportunity to...

Thousands receive good luck Shinto blessing for new year

January 2, 2020

About 5,000 people headed to a Nuuanu Shinto shrine on New Year's Day for a popular cultural tradition. They had a priest gives them blessings for the new year, and they could also buy good luck charms to keep that luck going through the year.

Organizers say the crowd was bigger than usual at the Daijingu Temple of Hawaii. Our Diane Ako volunteers there as a priestess or "miko" and spent part of the...