Japanese emperor to spend night with goddess in last major accession rite

[TomSea]

Japanese emperor to spend night with goddess in last major accession rite
Elaine Lies

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Emperor Naruhito will be ushered into a dark wooden hall on Thursday night to celebrate his last major accession rite after becoming emperor this spring: spending the night with a goddess.

The “Daijosai” rite centers on Amaterasu Omikami - the sun goddess from whom conservatives believe the emperor is descended. It is the most overtly religious of the series of rituals marking Naruhito’s taking over after his father Akihito’s abdication.

The rite has prompted lawsuits from critics ranging from Communists to Christians, who say it smacks of the militaristic past and violates the constitutional separation of church and state since the central government pays the 2.7 billion yen ($25 million) cost.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-emperor-ritual/japanese-emperor-to-spend-night-with-goddess-in-last-major-accession-rite-idUSKBN1XN2VA

I certainly disagree with this even if I take it, there is no real 'goddess' in this.

[mountaineer]

$25 million for one night? She must be one heck of a goddess.