Mass exorcism of dolls on October 15th annually

If you have lived in Japan, visited in March and / or studied Japanese or about Japan, you may be familiar with the Hina Matsuri, girls day and the dolls festival, which falls annually on March 3rd. But did you know there is also a "doll's day", which is celebrated today and October 15th annually? The day was established by the Japan Doll Association, but it originated from the custom of "doll thanksgiving" being held on this day since ancient times.

It may be lesser known among expats and lesser celebrated event among Japanese, than the dolls festival, but dolls day is a day to give thanks to dolls. And quite literally, all around the country, there are dolls thanksgiving events, usually at shinto shrines, on this day or a date near October 15th every year. Since ancient times Japanese people believe that spirits reside in dolls. So even if a doll is broken or even rotting, they don't just put them in the bin. There is a way to dispose of them, after a thanksgiving or memorial service. The dolls thanksgiving event is called ningyo-kanshasai 人形感謝祭.

The most famous dolls thanksgiving is that of Tokyo Grand Shrine. The dolls thanksgiving at Tokyo Grand Shrine is like a memorial service for the dolls. The ritual provides a mass exorcism, as such, and then the dolls can be disposed of. In association with Japan Post and the Japan Doll Association, the shrine accept dolls from all over Japan through a special doll delivery pack from Japan Post. It really is quite the event.

Have you ever brought a doll to a shrine for a memorial aka thanksgiving aka exorcism?