Ooharai

Ooharai ( lit. "great purification/exorcism") is a day where gods engage in a huge purging of ayakashi from the Near Shore. It takes places on January 1st of each year.

Preparations
Before the beginning of the cleansing, the gods gather in Takamagahara in front of the palace that is surrounding by scaffolding. This may be the residence of Amaterasu, since it is said to have been damaged by Yato during the subjugation of Bishamonten, although it remains to be directly specified.

Gods are each assigned a specific area to patrol for ayakashi. It is implied that more powerful gods receive larger zones, as Bishamonten's was considered to be especially large from Arahabaki's perspective. They also seem to make their rounds on shifts, as Shiiho said that it's almost time for their rounds as he and Arahabaki traveled to their assigned patrol zone.

Only those who are viewed as loyal to Heaven are invited to partake in Ooharai, as Takemikazuchi was no longer asked to join since Heaven considered him a participant in the Trial by Pledge. Similarly, Yato, Bishamon, and those who wagered a guidepost (Tenjin, Ebisu, and Kofuku) were not asked to join either.

Synopsis
In the year following Ebisu's subjugation and Bishamonten's rebellion against the Heavens, Ooharai is noted to be short on participants, while the palace is still in the process of being rebuilt. Benzaiten reveals to Arahabaki that there are rumors going around about a shinki who was broached the God's Greatest Secret; in fear of the condition spreading, both of them agree that it needs to be stopped by force, if that need arises.

Meanwhile, Amaterasu calls four gods of combat - later revealed to be Ōkuninushi, Shinatsuhiko, Yatagarasu, and Kagutsuchi - to convene with her. She reveals that the target of this year's Ooharai is to be one who returned from the dead, the Crafter, and instructs the gods to not use their shinki; however, if something were to happen, she permits them to invoke their aramitama nature and show no mercy.