Out with the dust, in with the new | Penn Today

Oosouji, the traditional New Year's cleaning, begins in mid-December in Japan. (Image: jet dela cruz on Unsplash)
Oosouji, the traditional New Year’s cleaning, begins in mid-December in Japan. (Image: jet dela cruz on Unsplash)

“The idea, very generally, is that daily life pollutes the environment and pollutes you—not just physically, but also metaphysically and spiritually,” says Penn’s Ayako Kano, professor of Japanese studies. “Every once in a while, you need to clean it out and purify in order to welcome the deities of the new year.”

Read more: Out with the dust, in with the new | Penn Today

Bob Bruhin

Bob Bruhin is a web developer, tour guide, art photographer, author, blogger, and graphic designer. His love of urban landscapes, especially in post-industrial Philadelphia, PA, leads him to document some of the darker corners of his city.

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