STORY: Japanese Shinto devotees braved the cold and took a plunge in an ice bath in Tokyo on Sunday (January 11), in a traditional ritual aimed at purifying the soul and praying for the new year.

A group of 99 people, including 17 women, wearing white loincloths and gowns, knelt into a pool filled with icy water and chanted prayers with their hands clasped tightly.

“It’s very cold. But after participating for the first time last year, I felt so refreshed both physically and mentally. So I was determined to take part again this year. For a whole year I had been preparing for this by showering in cold water every day. I’m so glad I was able to do it again this year,” said 44-year-old belly dancer Chisato Takahashi.

The ritual dates back to 1955, inspired by a former chief priest of the shrine who poured cold water over himself as he prayed for the health and prosperity of the local community.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 11, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS STEPPING INTO POOL FILLED WITH ICY WATER AT SHRINE

2. PARTICIPANTS KNEELING INTO WATER AND CHANTING

3. MAN CLASPING HANDS AND CHANTING IN WATER

4. PARTICIPANTS CHANTING IN WATER AND STANDING UP

5. FEMALE PARTICIPANTS STANDING IN POOL

6. PARTICIPANTS STEPPING OUT OF POOL

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 44-YEAR-OLD BELLY DANCER AND RITUAL PARTICIPANT, CHISATO TAKAHASHI, SAYING:

“It’s very cold. But after participating for the first time last year, I felt so refreshed both physically and mentally. So I was determined to take part again this year. For a whole year I had been preparing for this by showering in cold water every day. I’m so glad I was able to do it again this year.”

8. PARTICIPANTS STEPPING INTO POOL WITH BLOCKS OF ICE IN WATER

9. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS GETTING INTO POOL

10. WOMAN CHANTING IN WATER

11. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS CHANTING IN WATER

12. PARTICIPANTS CHANTING AND STANDING UP

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 78-YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANT, YOSHIKO SHIBATA, SAYING:

“It’s an annual event so it’s only natural for me take part in it every year. My goal is to keep doing it until I’m 80 years old.”

14. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS DOING EXERCISES AND CHANTING AFTER RITUAL

15. VISITORS LOOKING ON

16. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS DOING EXERCISES AND CHANTING

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 53-YEAR-OLD RITUAL PARTICIPANT, NAOWAKI YAMAGUCHI, SAYING:

“Reflecting upon failures I had last year, I have reset myself (for a new year). I stepped into the pool with a determination to overcome all the difficulties no matter what.”

18. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS LINING UP OUTSIDE SHRINE AND PREPARING FOR JOGGING EXERCISE

19. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS JOGGING

20. EXTERIOR OF TEPPOZU INARI SHRINE

21. LANTERN AND SIGN READING (Japanese): “Teppozu Inari Shrine”