Image search results - "ceremony" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "ceremony"

Hokule'a arrival ceremonies

Japanese tea ceremony house for rent. 聴雨庵

Tea ceremony

Sports Recreation Shiga 2008 opening ceremony at Kibogaoka Park, Yasu on Oct. 18, 2008. It was a sunny, cloudless day, and quite hot in sun. スポレク滋賀開会式

The opening ceremony started at 12:30 pm with a line of Caffy flags each representing a different sport.

Athletes from Shiga at the opening ceremony.

Then representatives from all 47 prefectures marched through the crowd.

Each flag had the name of the prefecture. This is Miyazaki.

Athletes from Miyazaki Prefecture hold a sign saying "See you next year in Miyazaki!"

Shiga athletes applaud as the different athletes marched past.

Gunma

Tokyo

Nagano

Shiga

Flags for all the prefectures.

The contingent from South Korea also marched to their seats from the center stage.

The opening ceremony stage was at the front and center, looking very tiny to most of us. Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada is in a yellow pants suit.

Large monitor shows Governor Kada declaring the opening of the Spo-rec event.

On the right was a large stage for the band.

Over 20,000 people competed in the sports tournaments held all over Shiga. They included soccer, softball, badminton, bowling, track, gate ball, folk dancing, aerobics, and trampoline.

This sports meet is designed for adults of all ages. You can be 95 years old and still participate. They call it a "life-long sports meet."

Caffy cap

Giant balls were tossed to the audience. They slapped the balls toward the front, but many of them popped like a balloon.

The next activity, representing water, was having a huge blue sheet covering the spectators. The opening ceremony had a theme based on water, humans, and the sky.