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People remove dust from tatami mats at Kyoto’s Nishi Hongwanji temple on Wednesday by hitting them with bamboo sticks in preparation for the New Year. The practice of removing the dust that has accumulated on the mats over the past year is called “susu harai.” The traditional year-end event is believed to have started in the Muro-machi period (1336-1573). After the tatami mats are beaten, the cleaners fan away the rising dust using uchiwa fans.
