Tokyo shrine honors precious dolls, in photos

TOKYO (AP) — At the Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Shinto priests are helping families say a final farewell to beloved dolls.

As representatives from a traditional Japanese doll company clap their hands in prayer, the priests symbolically release the spirits associated with the dolls, offering prayers for the health of their owners and families.

It's a ritual that honors the long-cherished toys and helps owners let go.

Many of them are elaborate dolls dressed in brightly colored kimono, some of which have been in families for more than 100 years, but next to them you can find ordinary children's toys: Snoopy, plush cats.

Prayers are then made over doll-shaped paper talismans, which are burned in place of the dolls.

The paper turns to gray ash. But the memories, and the dolls, remain as vivid as yesterday.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

A Shinto priest performs a purification ritual in front of dolls and stuffed toys during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Dolls no longer used by their owners are seen during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A Shinto priest carries a box containing doll-shaped paper talismans during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A priest sits next to dolls during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Representatives from a traditional Japanese doll company offer prayers for dolls no longer used by their owners during a traditional doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Dolls and stuffed toys no longer used by their owners are seen during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A Shinto priest performs rituals during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Doll-shaped paper cutouts are burned as part of a prayer ritual during a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A Shinto priest offers prayers for dolls no longer used by their owners during a traditional doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A doll is seen behind a miniature Samurai helmet among items displayed for a doll memorial ceremony at Dairokuten Sakaki Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — José Ramírez's mental mistake and fielding error cost Cleveland in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, a day after his bat helped boost the Guardians to an opening win.

He left third base uncovered on Chandler Simpson's fourth-inning infield chopper, then misplayed Ben Williamson's grounder for an error that led to three unearned runs as the Tampa Bay Rays evened the best-of-seven series with a 3-1 win Tuesday night.

“It’s a little bit faster here with the surface and I was playing parallel to the base,” Ramírez said through a translator. “The ball bounced right on the edge between the dirt and the turf, and that’s what made it a little more difficult for me. I tried to knock it down.”

“It’s frustrating. I feel bad because I wasn’t able to make that play and after that the runs came in. I feel bad about that,” he added.

A seven-time All-Star who has finished among the top five in MVP voting six times, Ramírez had three hits and scored twice in Cleveland's 7-3 win in the opene r.

Game 2 was 0-0 with Victor Mesa Jr. on first and two outs in the fourth when Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

Ramírez, shifted toward second base on the left-handed hitter, took a few steps toward Simpson and watched the shortstop throw to first. Seeing third base uncovered, Mesa rounded second and sped to third standing up as Ramírez tried in vain to catch up.

Four pitches later, Williamson hit a two-hopper that struck the edge of where the artificial turf meets the dirt near third. The ball skipped between Ramírez’s legs into left, allowing Mesa to score.

“José kind of got stuck. It looked like he just didn’t move his feet,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Just kind of looked like he sat back a little bit with his feet set instead of moving his feet. So tough break right there and obviously they capitalized.”

Liam Hicks pulled Parker Messier's next pitch, a slider, into right-center for a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.

“They’ve done that all year. When they smell blood, they take it and run,” Vogt said. “We had some sloppy plays in the field that we need to clean up.”

Ramírez homered in Games 4 and 5 of the Division Series as Cleveland overcome an 0-2 series deficit, the first Cleveland player to homer in consecutive postseason games since Francisco Lindor in 2018.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez watches during the second inning in Game 2 of an American League Championship Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez watches warms up during batting practice before Game 2 of an American League Championship Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)