Reishu Sakuma

kashiwade 拍手

The ritual clapping of the hands toward the kami. At shrines the common sequence is two bows, two claps, one bow. In this article I understand it as a gesture that clears negative ki and calls the kami, and also as a way to gauge the ki of a place.

Articles using this term

Oct 16, 2026Prayer Rooted in Daily Life

How to Clap Kashiwade: Clearing Negative Ki and Reading the Ki of a Place

Open the glossary

Join us at Inori no Miya

On the 1st and 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. JST, we livestream Haishin, a prayer to the kami. Anyone can watch for free by following us on LINE.

Follow on LINE