Japanese pray for a peaceful new year at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine<br /><br />Crowds flocked to Tokyo's Meiji Shrine on Wednesday, January 1, morning to offer prayers for the new year in 2025.<br /><br />The calendar new year is one of the biggest holidays in Japan, with a large number of people visiting shrines across the country to toss coins in exchange for making wishes. For many this year, the wish is to have a safe and peaceful year ahead.<br /><br />The country went through major tragedies in the beginning of the year 2024, with a massive earthquake that killed more than 500 people on the New Year's Day, and a major airplane crash at the Haneda airport on January 2.<br /><br />"Last year there was a lot of sad news, so I hope this year will be one where everyone can enjoy a bright and cheerful life with a smile," said 50-year-old Chisato Fujii who travelled from Kyoto.<br /><br />REUTERS VIDEO<br /><br />Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe <br />Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net <br /> <br />Follow us: <br />Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook <br />Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram <br />Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter <br />DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion <br /> <br />Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital <br />Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters<br /> <br />Check out our Podcasts: <br />Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify <br />Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts <br />Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic <br />Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer <br />Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein<br /> <br />#themanilatimes<br />#worldnews<br />#japan<br />#newyear
