A New Years tradition at Buddhist temples across Japan is the ringing of the Joyanokane, the temple bell from midnight. The bell is typically rung 108 times (sometimes by the temple priests, sometimes by invited guests or parishioners) to cleanse the listener of the 108 mortal desires (bonno) that, in traditional Buddhist thinking, are the cause of suffering. By ringing out the old year and ringing in the new, each earthly desire will be taken away and therefore we can start the New Year with a pure mind. It is a nice old custom.

If you would like to see a short film of traditional Japanese Joyanokane, please look here. And, for the grande version. please look here.