Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1893 — Rain in Japan. [ARTICLE]

Rain in Japan.

During the summer season in Japan droughts are very frequent, and the rice fields, before so beautiful, presenting as they do all the different shades of green innumerable, gradually lose their brilliancy of color, turn yellow aud parched and threaten the total destruction of the crop. Not only does the rice suffer, but the wells dry up and necessitate the carrying of water from long distances. So a drought in Japan is indeed a great calamity. After waiting long and hoping for a downfall of rain, the people turn en masse to evoke the power of their deities to send them the saving showers. A procession is formed of perhaps 200 men, nearly naked, who, currying straw emblems representing the' sun with-the rain pouring from it, and with long streamers having prayers written on them flying in the wind, proceed to the nearest river or bay, where the whole company wade into water until they are waist-deep, and, surrounding the emblems, pray aloud and throw water on the images with both hands.

After doing this several times the procession is reformed, when it proceeds to the temple to pray again. This ceremony is repeated several times, and should the rain come in abundance prayers are offered in thanksgiving; should it be only a shower they blame themselves for not having prayed fesveufly enough, and continue their devotions until a downpour takes place. Another form of devotion for the same purpose takes place at nightfall, when a lonfg boat is filled wi*h men and paddled swiftly across tho harbor, accompanying the prayers by the regular beatings of tom-toms and gongs. Sometimes at night, away down the bay, may be heard the weird sound of the tom-toms and the voices of the men gradually growing louder and louder as the boat approaches, each man bending to his paddle in regular time as it passes.us swiftly and gradually disappears iu the darkness, and is soon lost to sight and hearing.