What Is Jichinsai? Jichinsai（地鎮祭） is a traditional Japanese ceremony held before construction begins. It is meant to symbolically ask for safety and smooth progress during the building process. Today, holding a Jichinsai is not mandatory , and many homes are built without one. How Common Is It Today? Based on personal experience working with homeowners, even among Japanese clients, the decision to hold a Jichinsai often feels fairly evenly split. Some choose to do it, while o