Here in Sapporo, mass of the people pay a visit to Hokkaido Jingu (shrine) during the new year holidays. Particularly on the fist day of the year, you will witness that people are jammed in line all the way from the nearby subway station up to the shrine. This event is called “hatsumoude” in Japanese. People pay a visit to a nearby Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple during the new year days. It is intended to drive away any defilement and pray for the family’s health and prosperity. I think it is safe to say that shrines (Shnito) or temples (Buddhism) do not matter in this occasion. I know it sounds strange …