At a shrine in Fukuoka City, Hakata's autumn tradition "Ginnan Otoshi" was held in front of the altar.
``Ginan'' is the Hakata dialect for gingko nuts, and at Kushida Shrine in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, there is a gingko tree called ``Meoto Ginan,'' which is over 300 years old and has male and female gingko trees standing side by side.
The ginkgo tree that grows on this tree is said to bring happiness for married couples and the prosperity of descendants, and every fall at the shrine, a Shinto ritual is held to drop the fruit and offer it to the altar.
On the 5th, Shinto priests and Miko gathered in front of the “Meoto Ginan” and after shaking the branch with a bamboo about 5 meters long to drop the ginnan, they carefully picked it up with chopsticks and offered it to the altar.
Sadashi Takayama, a Gonnegi of Kushida Shrine, said, "I'm sorry to God that it's the first time I've had so few fruits this year, but I'm happy that I was able to make an offering as usual. I would appreciate it if the worshipers could feel the change of the seasons."
The collected gingko nuts will be distributed to worshipers as amulets at the ginnan festival in March next year.