Lake Suwa’s Omiwatari

For the first time in two years, Omiwatari ice patterns have formed on the surface of Lake Suwa. News cameras were on hand to cover the ceremony and find out how priests interpreted the ice patterns:

The legend of Omiwatari, from a tourist information page on the Lake Suwa area:

Once upon a time, there were a goddess named Yasakatome-no Mikoto (八坂刀売命) and a god, Takeminakata-no Mikoto (建御名方命). When the Goddess alone moved to the Lower Shrine, the God missed her so much but found that Lake Suwa was too large to cross. Then, when Lake Suwa was frozen over, he took the chance and walked over the ice to her shrine.

Today his footsteps are said to be Omiwatari. (This natural phenomenon is said to be caused as water expands with freezing in winter. The straight line of the sharp upheaval appears on the surface, and is called Omiwatari.) People used to regard Omiwatari as the sign which insured safety on the ice. When it came, they would step on Lake Suwa.

Comparing this year’s Omiwatari to the records of previous years, it has been determined that it closely resembles the ice patterns that formed on Lake Suwa in 1897 and 1963. Such an ice pattern is a favorable omen, and priests predicted that this year will have unseasonable weather and adverse conditions, but it will still be a good year with an abundant harvest.