Many Japanese people visit a Shinto shrine during the first three days of January in order to make traditional New Year’s wishes for their health and happiness. This is called Hatsumode, and it is one’s first visit of the year to a shrine or temple. A large shrine like Meiji Jingu will have over a million visitors in the first few days of the year. Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. After they pass