It's winter on Shiraishi Island, and there's not much to do. So most people spend their time storing up luck for the year.
Hatsumode marks the first shrine visit of the year when we pray for a lucky year.
Then there's the Tondo Matsuri when the New Year's offerings are burned in a special ceremony and the island kids sacrifice their first calligraphy of the year hoping that the gods will bless their calligraphy writing ability.