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Kyoto 9 Nov 2007
This is a Shinto shrine. I have only a vague understanding of the Shinto religion. However, as I understand it, each shrine has a local god (the guide used the word "god" -- I tend to think of the word "spirit," but that might just reflect how firmly I've been indoctrinated in monotheism). Apparently one of the duties of priests is to provide food and drink to the god who resides in the shrine. The tour guide said the objects that look a bit like pillows wrapped in plastic bags in this photos are barrels of sake, which have been donated for the god to drink. I believe that Dennis, Gary, and I saw items like this at a shrine in Kobe, but (at that time) did not know what they were (at least I didn't).
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