"Kuya Yuyaku Nembutsu," or an annual chanting service to reflect on behavior in the past year and pray for happiness in the coming year, began on December 13 at Rokuharamitsuji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. Following the more than 1,000 year tradition, nembutsu chanting reverberated through the temple's main hall.

The chanting service is said to have been initiated in 951 by St. Kuya, the high priest who founded the temple, from his desire to save people from epidemics. The service has been performed inconspicuously at dusk in its unique style, and continued even when nembutsu chanting was suppressed during the Kamakura Period. It is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

Junsho Kawasaki, who leads the service as the temple's chief priest, and three "Shiki-shu" priests, who follow and help the chief priest during the service, entered into the dimly-lit main hall at a little past 4:00p.m. Following the reading of the sutra, Shiki-shu priests swung their upper bodies back and forth while marching as they loudly chanted, "Moda Nan-maito," which means "Namu-amida-butsu," or let me be a believer in Amitabha.

The service will be held at 4p.m. every day until December 31, but it will be closed to the public on December 31.