When I first moved here like fifteen years ago I freaked out when several old women came to my door with a plate of tofu and asked me to insert any old, bent, or broken pins or needles I had. They said they were taking them all to the local shrine to be prayed for.
Yomiuri Online had a great picture of what the tofu looks like after quite a few contributions.
Unfortunately, I am not exactly sure how to use a needle or pin so I couldn't take part in the festival.
And then several years ago I heard about another type of kuyou but could never find anything about it on the Internet. Today I came across this.
Proof!Once a year in Japan there is a special Shinto ceremony held to offer thanks and appreciation to all the chickens that will be killed to make that KFC goodness.
It's called Thanks to the Broiler Chickens!
