Member-only story
As Japan’s Population Shrinks, More Traditional Festivals Let Women In
Japan’s aging and declining population, coupled with a flight to cities, is leading many festivals to re-examine old prejudices.
One of the under-discussed effects of Japan’s declining and aging population is the impact it’s having on Japan’s traditional arts and culture. As the country grows older and smaller, many traditions that have existed for hundreds of years — or longer — are in danger of extinction.
Japan’s traditional festivals (祭; matsuri) are feeling the pinch as well. As a result, some are doing something that was once unthinkable: they’re letting women participate.
Historically, customs in Japan have forbidden women from participating in various religious ceremonies and even occupations — a custom known in Japanese as nyonin kinsei (女人禁制). Women have traditionally been kept out of ceremonies and festivals connected to Japan’s native religion of Shinto on the ground that having periods and childbirth represented “impurities.”
The practice has applied, not just to religious celebrations, but even occupations. Women were barred for centuries from hunting and fishing, which were considered men’s work. Many were also barred from helping in construction work on areas such as tunnels due to the belief it’d make the goddess dwelling in the…
