GLOBAL CULTURES: ISE WORKSHOP 10 NOV 2026

In collaboration with the Japan Foundation, we’re delighted to host a special visit from Ise City, known for the Ise Shrine—a complex of Shinto shrines. Every 20 years, the old shrines are rebuilt on an adjacent plot—a project of renewal and to help keep traditional skills alive. Ahead of the next rebuild in 2027, we will be receiving AWANISHI Masahiko to introduce Okihiki culture and lead a workshop for creating the Zai used in Okihiki ceremonies. Tickets are available below. Hope you can join us! Running order: 18:00 Welcome and introduction 18:15 Workshop 20:00 Event ends About Ise Shine Known internationally as Ise Shrine, Ise Jingu (officially ‘Jingu’) includes 125 jinja (Shinto shrines), centred around the inner Kotaijingu Shrine (Naiku) dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, and the outer Toyo’uke-daijingu Shrine (Geku) dedicated to Toyo’uke-no-Omikami. Its area is roughly the same size as downtown Paris. More than 1,500 rituals are conducted here every year to pray for the prosperity of the Imperial family, the peace of the world, and a bountiful harvest. History Amaterasu-Omikami was originally worshipped in the Imperial Palace by successive Emperors of Japan. However, during the reign of the 10th Emperor Sujin, the Holy Mirror (the symbol of Amaterasu-Omikami) was ordered to be removed from the Imperial Palace. During the reign of the 11th Emperor Suinin, 2,000 years ago, the Emperor ordered his princess, Yamatohime-no-mikoto, to seek the most appropriate place to permanently enshrine and worship Amaterasu-Omikami. Following a long search, travelling across many regions, the princess received a revelation that Amaterasu-Omikami should be enshrined and worshipped eternally in Ise. 500 years later, under the 21st Emperor Yuryaku, Toyo’uke-no-Omikami was also summoned, from the north of Kyoto prefecture and enshrined in Ise, in accordance with another revelation from Amaterasu-Omikami.