Meet Gakkeido kiRin through talks, demonstrations and hands-on workshops exploring Japanese folk belief, prayer and the natural world.

Join Gakkeido kiRin for a three-day programme at the Pitt Rivers Museum, exploring a living Japanese folk religious tradition through talks, demonstrations and small-group amulet-making workshops.

ABOUT GAKKEIDO

Gakkeido is a living Japanese folk religious tradition rooted in mountain worship and in relationships between people, nature and spirits.

Through explanation, discussion and practice, this programme explores how Inori (prayer), calendrical knowledge, natural materials and handmade protective objects continue to form part of a living tradition today.

Each morning begins with a short overview of Gakkeido, followed by a different theme each day. The morning talk provides context for that day’s afternoon amulet-making workshop, connecting the themes explored in the talk with practical experience.

DAILY PROGRAMME

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER — Hataki

The morning talk introduces Gakkeido’s relationship with nature and its techniques for analysing phenomena, alongside medical techniques and divination. It explores how these practices relate to one another within the tradition.

These themes lead into the afternoon Hataki-making workshop.

The morning programme will also include a museum guide talk and a self-guided trail exploring related objects and themes in the Pitt Rivers Museum’s collections.

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER — Irataka-Mamori

The morning talk introduces Gakkeido’s ritual implements and ritual practices, followed by Majinai, protective practices and divination. It explores their place in everyday life and in relationships between people and Okage-sama—entities revered in everyday life.

These themes lead into the afternoon Irataka-Mamori-making workshop.

The museum guide talk and self-guided trail will provide opportunities to consider related portable and protective objects in the Museum’s collections, including netsuke.

Sunday is the only day on which children may attend. Please see the family participation information below before booking.

MONDAY 19 OCTOBER — Ie-Mamori

The morning talk explores curses and their removal, the transmission and decline of the tradition, and divination. It also considers Gakkeido’s engagement with society and its future, including what can be passed on to future generations.

These themes lead into the afternoon Ie-Mamori-making workshop.

The morning programme will also include a guided museum tour led by Faye Belsey, Deputy Head of Collections.

PROGRAMME AND TICKETS

Three ticket options are available for each day:

Morning Programme: 10.00 am–12.30 pm

Talks, interpretation, discussion and questions. Museum activities vary by day.

Afternoon Workshop: 2.00–4.30 pm

A small-group, practical amulet-making workshop and demonstration.

Full-Day Programme: 10.00 am–4.30 pm

Includes both the morning programme and the afternoon workshop. There will be a break from 12.30 to 2.00 pm.

Please select the correct date and ticket type when booking. Each day has a different focus, and you are welcome to attend on more than one day.

Workshop places are strictly limited. All sessions will be delivered in Japanese with English interpretation.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION

Children may attend only on Sunday 18 October.

Every child must be accompanied by a responsible adult, who must remain with them throughout the session. Please select the appropriate Sunday family ticket when booking.

The accompanying adult does not require a separate ticket unless they also wish to make their own Irataka-Mamori.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Lunch will not be provided. Participants attending for the full day should make their own arrangements during the break from 12.30 to 2.00 pm.

Bottled water will be available during the morning programme. Tea and coffee are planned for the afternoon break.

THE WIDER FOUR-DAY PROGRAMME

This event forms part of a wider four-day Gakkeido programme at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

The programme opens on Friday 16 October with Living Traditions of Nature and Spirit: Evenki Collections and Gakkeido Inori (Prayer) in Dialogue, a separate Public Engagement event organised by the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Friday’s event explores Gakkeido in dialogue with the Museum’s Evenki display and collections. It requires a separate booking through the Pitt Rivers Museum and is not included in any ticket purchased through this Eventbrite page.

This Eventbrite page covers only the events organised by Gakkeido UK from Saturday 17 to Monday 19 October.

The events taking place from Saturday 17 to Monday 19 October are organised independently by Gakkeido UK. The Pitt Rivers Museum is providing the venue and contributing the scheduled museum guide talks and tour, but is not the organiser of these three days.

SUPPORTING THE PITT RIVERS MUSEUM

100% of the advertised ticket price will be donated by Gakkeido UK to the Pitt Rivers Museum. Any Eventbrite fees deducted from the payout will be covered by the

Description supplied by the event organiser.