Parishioners of a Shinto shrine in Tokyo braved the cold and stepped into an ice bath to purify their souls and pray for the new year. ⁠ ⁠ The 68th annual ritual at Teppouzu Inari Shrine was held under a blue sky with the temperature hovering around 48 degrees. ⁠ ⁠ The ritual originally began in 1955, inspired by a former chief priest who splashed himself with cold water while praying for the community's well-being.⁠ ⁠