JAPAN: Virtue

Thousands of Japanese, increasingly alarmed by the Emperor’s recently aggravated ill health, began last week to “purify” themselves, on the theory that just as the virtue of the Tenno (emperor) is supposed to effect the well-being of his subjects, so an increase in their purity should benefit the Emperor.

Hundreds of men, women, children appeared before the imperial seaside villa at Hayama, stripped and vigorously purified themselves by pouring buckets of cold water over one another and then standing motionless in the chill sea breeze until dry.