Twine made from locally grown western Japan hemp was handed Monday to weavers of a fabric that will be used in a key imperial succession rite to be performed by Emperor Naruhito in mid-November.A wooden box containing the shiny 50-kilometer-long thread was given to the weavers at a Shinto shrine in Yoshinogawa, Tokushima Prefecture.The weaving of the fabric called "aratae" will begin on Sept. 10 and will be delivered upon its completion to the Imperial Palace before the Great Thanksgiving Ceremony known as the Daijosai.In the Nov. 14-15 rite, the emperor will offer newly harvested rice to h…READ FULL ARTICLE
