Times are you’ll see a shinto priest waving a shide (紙垂, 四手) - a zigzag-shaped paper streamer - at a site before construction begins. This ceremony is called anzen-kigan-sai (安全祈願祭), meant to seek the blessing of the gods in order to ensure the safety during construction work.
Classes at four schools in Mashiki remain conducted in temporary buildings. Three are expected to be complete within the year, and groundbreaking on the last, Mashiki JHS, began yesterday. It is expected to be completed in 2020. - William
