Naked Festival
PILLAR RAISING CEREMONY
(Naoishinji Shime-bashira Tate-shiki )


A pillar (Shime-bashira) with the words "Naoi Shinji "
is placed in front of the main gate
and at the second torii (gateway at the entrance
to a Shinto shrine) of Konomiya Shrine.

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	Putting shimebashira there tells us the beginning of Naoishinji (儺追神事）or The Naked Festival. It also tells us that this is the place where the ritual will be held.
January 2nd of the lunar calendar at 9:00 a.m. shimebashira is placed by workers of Konomiya shrine and members of Tessho-kai (a group of ex-shin-otoko)		Shimebashira is purified by a Shinto priest
		<pillar> size of the pillar 30cm x 30 cm x 3m material Japanese cypress / Kiso hinoki