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Kanamara Festival かなまら祭Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
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The biggest taiko drum festival in the Kanto region is held annually in April. Various taiko drum troupes perform for two full days on various outdoor stages in Narita, including the main stage in front of the Narita-san temple.
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Pumping (or humping) the...
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Carving daikon (old photo). These men were really good at carving the daikon.
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1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria) by Kagurazaka geisha
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Hanamatsuri celebrates the Buddha's birthday on April 8. This is Tsukiji Honganji in Tokyo.The flowers symbolize Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal.
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Baby Buddha statueLadles are provided for pouring the sweet tea over the Buddha. Sweet tea is also provided to worshippers. It symbolizes the sweet rain that fell when the Buddha was born.
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Children dressed for the chigo parade, Tsukiji Hongwanji, TokyoIt took a long time before they could get all the kids to settle down for the picture and to get all the mothers out of the picture.
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Yabusame archer
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Hamura Tulip Festival, Tokyo
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The Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri or Azalea Festival is held from April to early May at Nezu Shrine which has a slope filled with 50 varieties of azaleas.
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Dancers under the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, Tokyo
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Arrow in mid-air. Asakusa Yabusame.
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Drum troupe from S. Korea
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Riding it...Obviously I have better shots of her with her cute face showing and both arms in the air, but I'm not one to embarass people...
It has been scientifically proven that sex is good for your health and beauty.
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The crowd favorite was this high school girl. See the arrow pierce the wooden target.
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The wooden target boards have an envelope of confetti stuck on the back so it explodes when the target breaks apart.
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But my camera captured the log going down, even though I could hardly see it. Onbashira Festival, Shimosuwa, Nagano. 木落とし坂 春宮一之柱
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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At the bottom of the slope is a huge crowd watching the spectacle, Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.
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Only four of the 12 floats have karakuri puppets which perform. Takayama Matsuri, Gifu
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Ryuujintai Karakuri, Takayama Festival, Gifu 龍神台からくり
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Floats are displayed on the street. Takayama Matsuri, Gifu
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Miyako Odori, Kyoto
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Cherry Dance, Kyoto.
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Sweet tea is poured over a statue of a baby buddha. According to legend, sweet rain (or perfumed water) fell when the Buddha was born.
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Asakusa: White elephant is usually present during Hanamatsuri. On the day before the Buddha's mother Queen Maya gave birth, she dreamed that a white elephant entered her womb.
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White elephant and the pagoda at Sensoji temple, Asakusa on Buddha's birthday called Hanamatsuri.
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Minami Sanno Matsuri Festival in Hino, Shiga.
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Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday on April 8. A small statue of the baby Buddha is in a miniature temple called Hanami-do (花御堂). This is Ikegami Honmonji temple in Tokyo.
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See the baby buddha's hands pointing to Heaven. Sweet tea is poured over a statue of a baby buddha. According to legend, sweet rain (or perfumed water) fell when the Buddha was born.
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Oiran Dochu procession, Ichiyo Sakura Festuval, Tokyo
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Oiran Dochu procession, Tokyo
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Lots of eye candy in this show.
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A beautiful day for an oiran matsuri.
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Kamuro attendants and oiran courtesan at the Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri Oiran Dochu Procession in Asakusa, Tokyo.
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The 36th Noge Daidogei Street Performance Festival in Yokohama, Japan featured a fantastic troupe of Chinese acrobats on April 24-25, 2010. 中国雑技芸術団
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Another one which I didn't have time to see: Diane Orrett's balloon act. She's from Liverpool, UK.
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White Heron Dance, Asakusa
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White Heron Dance, Asakusa
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The Shirasagi-no-Mai white heron dancers pass through Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa.
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Shirasagi-no-Mai dancer at Asakusa.
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White Heron dancers were silent and sang nothing as the musicians played.
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Sanno-sai Festival, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
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Sanno-sai Festival, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
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Barge loaded with mikoshi approaching Wakamiya Port. Sanno-sai Festival.
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Sakata Shinmeigu Shrine Yakko-buri, Maibara, Shiga
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Taga Matsuri Festival on April 22, Shiga Prefecture. 多賀まつり
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The young shrine maidens also danced, Taga Matsuri.
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Good-looking woman warrior on a horse, Taga Matsuri, Shiga Pref.
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Taga Matsuri
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Altar for Hana-matsuri or Buddha's birthday at Tennoji temple in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo.
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Pour sweet tea over the statue of a baby Buddha at Tennoji temple in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo.
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