First Sun, First Sunrise

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初日　hatsuhi : first sun, first ray of sunlight
初日の出　hatsuhi no de:
first sunrise of the year
..... New Year's sunrise

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: New Year
***** Category: Heaven


http://www.minobusanropeway.co.jp/

Amaterasu Oomikami and Dainichi Nyorai, The Sun Gods
天照大神と大日如来

On the first day of the New Year, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Oomikami is worshipped in many places of Japan. During the Edo period, is was customary to bow and clap your hands in prayer to the sun, o-tentoo-sama, every morning and also make offerings to the numerous Shinto deities at the small shelf for the Gods (kamidana) in every home.

The Sun Goddess, Queen of Kami, She Who Illuminates the Heavens, the Supreme Shinto Deity. Amaterasu is the child of Izanagi and Izanami (creator gods of Japanese mythology). Japan's imperial family claims direct decent from her line; the nation's flag symbolizes the sun; the name of the country means "Land of the Rising Sun."
Emperor Akihito (the current emperor) is said to be the 125th direct descendant of Emperor Jinmu, Japan's legendary first emperor and a mythical descendent of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/shinto-concepts.shtml

In her Buddhist version, she is adressed to as Dainichi Nyorai, the Great Sun.

He whose name means "Spreader of Light in All Directions." In Japan he is the "Great Solar Buddha of Light and Truth," "The Resplendent One," the "Radiant Preacher."
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/dainichi.shtml

To worship the sunrise on the first day of the New Year will bring good fortune and health to the human being. Temples and shrines on mountains and at the seaside are crowded with people who keep alert the whole night, warming at large bonfires, trying to catch a first glimpse.

For Japanese, first sunrise of the year is special. It is a kind of spiritual event called "Hatsuhi-no-de" in Japan. Many Japanese wake up early in the New Year's morning to watch the first sunrise and pray to sun for their annual fortunes or wishes. Many places which have a great view of sunrise are always crowded with many people at New Year's Day in Japan.

Here is a link with the above quote and a first sunrise in New Jersey
http://tak-tak.fateback.com/travel/US_Drive/day_9/day9_en.htm


Awakening before sunrise is also considered important, as viewing the first sunrise of the year is thought to be a good and proper start for the New Year. Again, the T.V. networks which have been broadcasting continuously throughout the night, show pictures of the first sunrise breaking at various locations in Japan.


Read more about the New Year customs here !

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Mt. Fuji
seen from Temple Minobu-san, a famous place for looking at Mt. Fuji and other Fuji LINKS


http://ytakaki.hp.infoseek.co.jp/fuji/
http://www.fuji-works.com/


More links with wonderful sunrises, there are more than 40.000 hits if you google.

http://www.geocities.co.jp/Athlete-Sparta/8053/hatsuhinode/hatsuhinode.htm

….. in Matsuyama, the town of Shiki, Shikoku
http://www2.osk.3web.ne.jp/~hirodas/oshiro/hatsuhinode.html


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Things found on the way

Great picture gallery of Okinawa
http://www.pbase.com/dbh/okinawa

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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. First Sunrise 2005

Haibun by Gabi Greve


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HAIKU

cross my heart
it looks huge...
the year's first sun

-Issa, 1820
Tr. David Lanoue
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

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hatsuhi izu
shio todoroki no
taenu naka
….. Tohyu

New Year's sunrise
in the roaring sound
of the breaking waves

From the Kyoshi Group of Inahata Teiko
http://www.kyoshi.or.jp/inv-haiku/season2.htm

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sora chikaku amari mabayuki hatsuhi kana

.......... the sky draws near
.......... such a bright sunrise
.......... New Year's Day

Shiki Archives
http://www.cc.matsuyama-u.ac.jp/~shiki/kim/shikiwinter.html

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first sunrise
over woods and hills
drifting clouds

Isabelle Prondzynski

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Related words

***** First lightness, first light of the year
(hatsu akari) 初明かり
kigo for the New Year

The first appearance of dawn, before the first sunrise of a new year on January first.

This is very close to the following, first light of every day.

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***** First light (of every morning)
non-seasonal topic.

first light is the first lightening of the sky. it is colorless and comes 20 minutes before the rosy light of dawn. the actual sunup, the sighting of the sun, comes later yet.

first light
a frost star
in the birdbath

first light
lawnchairs
crosshatched with snow

first light
venus and Jupiter
in a tight embrace

first light
distant suns
fade

susan delphine delaney

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