Prayers from the puddy fields
Prayers from the puddy fields. Held on July 2, 2022 at Shodoshima, Japan, this 300-year-old tradition, called Mushiokuri, sees participants parade through the paddy fields with torches in their hands to pray for a good harvest and to ward off harmful pests. The mesmerizing flames from the torchlight procession illuminated the ancient terraced rice fields. Due to the pandemic, this was the first time in three years that the festival was held. After praying at the sacred site on the top of the mountain, the participants slowly descended the footpath in single file, shouting “tomose, tomose.”
