COMPLETION

Dutch Shintomaster has performed the completion ceremony or Shunko Shiki for many (Japanese) companies all over Europe, a.o.: 2004 Hi-Bis (Honshu, Mitsui, Bayer Material Science) Bitterfeld, Germany 2007 Sitina Tunnel Bratislava, Slovak Republic more..... 2007 IPS-Alpha Triangle Industrial Zone, Usti Region, Czech Republic more..... 2007 Sony Nitra, Slovak Republic more 2009 Stone Statue “Aardappelmannetjes” City Zoetermeer more Completion ceremony for dojo with inauguration of kamidana 2005 Shomeikan Wien, Austria 2005 Shofukan Rotterdam 2005 Shinbuken Amsterdam 2008 Engakuan Vijfhuizen 2009 Shizenryu Leiden more....

Completion Ceremony When the construction of a building is finished, a ceremony will be held to celebrate the completion. This ceremony is called Shunko Shiki. The aim of the ceremony is to express gratitude for the safe construction; to pray for the prosperity of the company in its new building and to pray for the safety and good health of the staff's members. Traditionally, the completion ceremony is the third and last ceremony of a series that starts with the jichinsai (ground-breaking ceremony), followed by joutoushiki (beam- raising ceremony). In each of these ceremonies the shinto master addresses the kami in a Norito. The Norito reports in a solemn way the details of the construction project; the names of the companies being in charge of the construction, owning the facilities or being associated. The Norito also states the wish to complete the construction with safety, peace, happiness and prosperity for all. Quite often there is also a kamidana on the construction site. Basically the kamidana is a simple shelf with the ofuda from the shinto shrine and evergreen branches. The presence of kami as a protective guardian enhances the sense of safety. It is usually a staff member who takes care of the kamidana. In this way anzen kigan becomes a part of daily life. For this reason there is a kamidana in many Japanese houses, in the board rooms of big companies and even on the bridge of a ship. In Europe nowadays many people practice the Japanese arts of aikido, kendo, iaido, or kyudo in a dojo. Since more and more people become aware that these arts are not a sport, but a way to create harmony of mind and body, they feel the urge to have a kamidana in their dojo. During a completion ceremony the kamidana may be inaugurated as well.

COMPLETION CEREMONY: 2004 Hi-Bis 2007 Sitina-tunnel 2007 IPS-Alpha 2007 Sony Nitra