Tokyo locals perform purification ritual after rough start to 2024

Residents gathered at Tokyo’s Kanda Myojin Shrine on Saturday to take part in a purification ritual, marking a fresh start to the New Year. The beginning of 2024 has been challenging for Japan, with a devastating earthquake. The festival attendees warmed up near the shrine under a clear winter sky and then took turns immersing themselves in icy water despite the cold weather.