Daijosai

• Japanese: 大嘗祭 (daijousai)

The daijôsai is a secret ritual performed by the Emperor immediately following his accession to the throne. Little is known about the details of the rite, but it involves the one performing ritual making his first offering of rice as Emperor, consuming rice, and becoming imbued with the spiritual power of his forebears.

References

• Amino Yoshihiko, Alan Christy (trans.), Rethinking Japanese History, Center for Japanese Studies, University of Michigan (2012), 253n12.