Niiname-no-Matsuri

The Niiname-sai (新嘗祭, also read Shinjō-sai and Niiname-no-Matsuri) is a Japanese harvest ritual.The ritual is celebrated by the Emperor of Japan, who thanks the Shinto deities for a prosperous year and prays for a fruitful new year. It takes place near the Three Palace Sanctuaries in the Tokyo Imperial Palace and at several large Shinto shrines. The first Niiname-sai for a new emperor is known as the Daijō-sai (大嘗祭), and is part of his enthronement ceremonies.

In pre-modern Japan, the date of the Niiname-sai was moveable, taking place on the last Day of the Rabbit of the eleventh month of the old Japanese lunar calendar, but in the Meiji period the date was fixed at November 23, and this date became a national holiday, Labor Thanksgiving Day, in the Shōwa period after World War II.

The Engishiki specified imperial involvement with four festivals, the Kinen-sai, the two Ōharae-shikis and Niiname-no-Matsuri for tribute.

In ancient times, people held domestic rites called Kinen-sai in the February or April and Niiname-sai in November. During these rites, people worshiped their ancestors, the god of food, and the hearth deity. They believed the spirits of their ancestors (Oyagami) came to them through the rice.

Ceremony
During the Niiname-sai, an ancient Shinto ritual that says thanks for the crops of the previous year and prays for fruitfulness in the following year, the Emperor of Japan says thanks to his gods for the fall harvest. It is held in the Imperial Palace, as well as other shrines including Ise Grand Shrine and Izumo Shrine.

Date
Traditionally, it was held on the last Day of the Rabbit in the eleventh month of the old lunar calendar.

Since the Meiji era the date has been fixed on November 23, which corresponds to the modern public holiday Labor Thanksgiving Day, which was introduced in 1948.

As a kigo, the name of the ritual is associated with winter.

Name
Niiname-sai is the common name of the festival, but the same kanji can also be read Jinshō-sai or Niiname-no-Matsuri. Niiname can also be read Niinae, Niinai, Niwanai, Niwanami or Nyūnami.

The first Niiname-sai following the accession of a new emperor is called the Daijō-sai (大嘗祭, also read Ōname-Matsuri and Ōnie-no-Matsuri).

In literature
Book 19 of the Man'yōshū includes six poems (numbered 4273 to 4278) composed on the 25th day of the eleventh month of 752, the "Niiname-kai poems". The "nyūnami" is alluded to in one of the azuma-uta (songs of eastern Japan) included in Book 14.