Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer to the Harvest Kami — 1869 edition

御年神祭（みとしのかみのまつり）（1869年刊本（ねんかんぽん））

A spring prayer naming Ōtoshi, Mitoshi and Wakatoshi together. It asks that crops ripen without pests, disease or loss and that rain and wind favor farming.

English meaning and source text

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English meaning

About this English rendering

This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.

We name Ōtoshi, Mitoshi and Wakatoshi and offer words of praise.

At the beginning of spring each year, we invite you to this household shrine and serve you morning and evening. Please hear our offerings peacefully.

May the abundant rice harvest, cultivated with water splashing on arms and mud on thighs, and all grains and growing plants come to fruit without loss.

May pests and diseases be absent, rain and wind suit the season, and the means of farming remain secure. Protect and bless this work. We humbly offer these words.

Source text and reading aid

Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.

How to use the Roman letters

Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.

You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.

大年神（おほとしのかみ）・御年神（みとしのかみ）・若年神（わかとしのかみ）と御名（みな）は白（まを）して、称辞竟奉（たたへごとをへまつ）らくは、

ohotoshinokami mitoshinokami wakatoshinokamito minaha mawoshite, tatahegotowohematsurakuha,

毎年（としのは）に春（はる）の初（はじめ）に、此（こ）の神棚（かみだな）に招奉（をきまつ）りて、朝夕（あしたゆふべ）に御祭仕奉（みまつりつかへまつ）らくを、平（たひら）けく安（やすら）けく聞食（きこしめせ）と白（まを）す。

toshinohani haruno hajimeni, kono kamidanani wokimatsurite, ashitayufubeni mimatsuritsukahematsurakuwo, tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeseto mawosu.

如此（かく）仕奉（つかへまつ）るに依（より）て、手肱（たなひぢ）に水沫（みなわ）掻垂（かきたれ）、向股（むかもも）に泥（ひぢ）掻寄（かきよせ）て取作（とりつく）らむ奥津御年（おくつみとし）を始（はじ）めて、穀等（たなつものども）、百（もも）の草木（くさき）に至（いた）るまで、不成傷（ならずそこな）ふ事（こと）なく、

kaku tsukahematsuruni yorite, tanahijini minawa kakitare, mukamomoni hiji kakiyosete toritsukuramu okutsumitoshiwo hajimete, tanatsumonodomo, momono kusakini itarumade, narazusokonafu kotonaku,

蝗（いなむし）及（また）種々（くさぐさ）の病（やまひ）不令有（あらせず）、雨風（あめかぜ）時節（をり）に協（かな）ひて、農業（なりはひ）の便（たづき）を失（うしな）はず守（まもり）給（たま）ひ幸（さきはへ）給（たま）へと、恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）みも称辞竟奉（たたへごとをへまつ）らくと白（まを）す。

inamushi mata kusagusano yamahi arasezu, amekaze worini kanahite, narihahino tazukiwo ushinahazu mamori tamahi sakihahe tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurakuto mawosu.

Connected kami and buddhas

These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.

Sources and edition (1)

English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.

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