Hafuriden ("Hall of Celebration")
Hafuriden ("Hall of Celebration")
祝殿（はふりでん）
Situated on land where, on a clear day, a majestic and magnificent view of Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji is visible, the Hafuriden (lit. "Hall of Celebration") was conceived by Dr. Kenji Nanasawa[1], a leading researcher on Shirakawa Shintoism. It was completed on August 11, 2012 in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, as a place to perform Shinto rituals as a prayer for everlasting peace not only in Japan, but throughout the world. To streamline the effectiveness of the Shinto concept of Harai [2] (lit. "ritual purification"), the design of this hall incorporates a cutting-edge technology developed by Nanasawa, "Logostron® Technology[3]." This transmission technology is installed in the interior walls and involves the digitization of the energy of Genrei [4](lit. "word-spirits") using the frequencies of the fifty syllabary of the Japanese language.
The design of Hafuriden was based on the sacred hall where the Shirakawa Shinto ritual "Hafuri no Shinji" (lit. "ritual of celebration") of the accession of the Japanese Imperial Crown Prince to the throne was practiced (since the end of the seventh century, successors to the throne must be male). In this way, the sentiments of the ancient people and court rituals that have long been passed from generation to generation in the imperial family are connected and transmitted to the future in a new form[5].
Rituals in Japan have a long history that date back to the Jomon period (c. 15,000–1,000 BC). There are various sacred rites in Japan, ranging from grand annual festivals to pray for a bountiful harvest, protection from natural disasters, or the repose of spirits to smaller-scale festivals rooted in local communities. Among these, since their inception, court rituals performed by the emperor have been regarded as the most sacred as he is regarded as the head of the Shinto religion.
The Hafuriden, where the tradition of court rituals is still conducted for the gathering of wisdom that transcends time and space, has various devices incorporated into every detail. Such scrupulous attention to detail is befitting of a place that recreates the history and distinction of the venerable family.
In order to create a boundary demarcating the realm of the sacred [6] (an important concept in Shintoism as practiced from ancient times), the outer wall of the hall is entirely clad in mirrors, making use of their reflective properties to bounce light off their surface. The significance of mirrors is particularly notable in the case of the imperial family, because the mirror has been one of the "Three Sacred Treasures" [7]of the Imperial Throne held by successive emperors, and symbolizes sacred power.
A simple wooden gate, equivalent to a torii [8]gate at a Shinto shrine, serves as a boundary between the sacred space and the outside world of the mundane. White gravel is spread inside the hedge surrounding the building, and nine pillars made of a special carbon material are buried underground to regulate the magnetic field. The roof of the hall is designed with Mt. Fuji as its iconic theme, resembling the form of a pyramid.
The ceiling of the entrance has strobes that emit nano-scale, intermittent light, and this distinctive pulsed light emitted from the strobe has the effect of exorcizing evil spirits and producing a purified spiritual barrier. In addition, the entire perimeter of the building has what are called "equilibrium magnetic field coils" between the interior and exterior walls, which are also installed under the floor of the central tatami (straw mat) space. These coils are connected to a Logostron® digitizing system and amplifiers, creating a space of exorcism that is unparalleled in its ability to transmit Genrei, or "word-spirits," one of the three pillars of the Shirakawa Shinto practice.
Moreover, the floor is equipped with four laser beams that transmit the energy of the Genrei to the core of the earth and the core of the universe. The center of the floor is paved with glass, under which a white sand karesansui[9]-style decoration creates a sublime atmosphere in reference to the emperor's "water ritual," which is considered the most important of his imperial duties. Since ancient times, emperors, as "rulers of water," have placed great importance on the practice of water rituals.
In short, the Hafuriden is a modern reproduction of a sacred place suitable for the performance of court rituals, protected by barriers inside and out, and using the most cutting-edge digital technology to transmit the energy of the Genrei word-spirits to the world. The result is a building of mysterious beauty in which the five elements[10]—the basis of the natural form—evocative of the memory of the ancients, are fused with a futuristic environment.
In 2019, the Hafuriden underwent a major transformation. Until then, language energy had been transmitted to the world through the words of ritual prayer called "norito," but Dr. Nanasawa, with an eye on the era of great change, sublimated Hafuriden as a "digital ceremonial hall" that delivers prayers more precisely and powerfully by incorporating functions transmitted via the internet.
The energy from word-spirits necessary for the peace and evolution of the consciousness of humankind, and also for the harmony of the entire universe, continues to be transmitted to the entire world from Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, where the Hafuriden is located today.
English translation by Norie Fukuda-Matsushima
Copy Editing by Vanessa Byrne
[1] The Shirakawa family has held a position similar to that of the Commissioner of the Imperial Household Agency in modern times, and Shirakawa Shinto refers to the style of Shinto transmitted by the Shirakawa family, who served as the head of the Imperial Court from the Heian period (794－1185) to the end of the Edo period (1868). Nanazawa is an heir of Shirakawa Shinto, having been directly handed down their rituals and practices under the tutelage of a scholar who learned them from the Shirakawa family. He was a Shintoist who did not belong to any existing shrine, as well as a researcher of religion.
[2] Harai is a series of prayers to cleanse oneself of the past and the future and bring one’s consciousness to the present moment.
[3] Logostron® is an electronic transmitter conceived and developed by Dr. Kenji Nanasawa, the conceiver of Hafuriden. It is still under research and development as a device that transmits Genrei, or "word-spirits," using the frequencies of the Japanese syllables, one tone at a time. The purpose is to pursue the improvement of the effectiveness of purification, which has long been an important concept in Shinto. At Hafuriden, Genrei is practiced daily, with the support of digital devices. The effects are said to contribute to spiritual stability. In turn, the hope is that it will lead (or should lead) to the realization of a peaceful world.
[4] Genrei is defined as word-spirits that emerged from the purified mind and body (words free from human desires and emotions) through the ancient practice of "purification" and "repose." Thus, it is believed that divine will dwells in these words, and so when spoken, invoke divine will.
[5] Practices of Shirakawa Shinto are conducted daily at Hafuriden. Shirakawa Shinto is a sect of the ancient Shinto tradition, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people as practiced prior to the introduction of Confucianism and Buddhism to Japan.
[6] Similar to the Western concept of "warding off evil" with an amulet or talisman, but more focused on demarcating the boundary between the sacred and the profane as a physical form of purification.
[7] Three Sacred Treasures (representing the three primary virtues: valor [the sword], wisdom [the mirror], and benevolence [the jewel]) are considered official proof of the emperor's succession to the throne in Japan.
[8] A torii gate is a traditional gate most commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine, symbolically marking the transition from the profane world to a sacred one.
[9] Karesansui are dry landscape gardens typically associated with Zen Buddhism.
[10] The Five Elements (or "Five Agents") Theory that originated in ancient Chinese cosmology (Wuxing) which explains that everything in the Universe came into existence from the elements wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.