We visited one of the major shrines in Osaka. It was raining so hard and neither of us had taken a coat or umbrella so we took shelter here and I was looking at this wondering what it was. A Japanese lady saw me and came over to show me that before praying you must cleanse yourself by scooping up some water with the ladles and pooring first over your right hand then your left and then some into a cupped hand that you use to rinse your mouth. "now you can go and pray" she said to me. What a kind person.