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| The main feature of the Mitsuyama Taisai Festival, three 18 meters tall 'mountains.' are displayed at the Itate Hyozu Shrine on March 31, 2013 in Himeji, Japan. The festival has been held once every 20 years since 1593. Priests of the Itate Hyozu Shrine welcome all the gods across the country from the top of 'three mountains' and treat with food for seven days starting today, praying for peace and prosperity. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A container full of sand lances sits at Mega Fishing Port on March 23, 2013 in Himeji, Japan. Sand lances are a popular local cuisine in Hyogo Prefecture. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A 20-year-old Japanese macaque monkey named Monday scratches her eyes while suffering an allergy to pollen from the cedar tree at Awajishima Monkey Centre on March 17, 2013 in Sumoto, Japan. Many monkeys are suffering the effects of hay fever at this time of the year, with the typical symptoms being the same as with humans. According to Awajishima Monkey center this year hay fever is higher than last year, the pollen season is from February to April. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A man rests under the blooming plum tree at Ayabeyama on March 14, 2013 in Tatsuno, Japan. About 20,000 Japanese plum trees of different varieties are currently in full bloom on Ayabeyama, the mountain will open to the public for viewing until March 21. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A woman holds a candle as she commemorates victims of Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in front of Kobe's light of hope memorial on March 11, 2013 in Kobe, Japan. Japan is commemorating the second anniversary of the 2011 Magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Anti-nuclear activists gather together and display a 'No Nukes' sign during an anti-nucler protest on March 10, 2013 in Kobe, Japan. Japan to mark the second anniversary of the Magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, that damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, residents of radiation contaminated area around the plant have been evacuated and unable to return for a long period of time. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Misao Okawa, who is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest woman, receives a birthday cake during her 115th birthday celebrations at Kurenai Nursing Home on March 5, 2013 in Osaka, Japan. Misao Okawa, was born in Tenma, Osaka, on March 5, 1898. A descendent of Kimono merchants, she married in 1919 and had three children, of which a daughter and a son are still alive, and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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A Japanese woman plays koto, traditional
Japanese stringed musical instrument on March 3,2013 at international center in
Himeji, Japan. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto musical
instrument are about 180 centimetres length and have 13 strings. (Photo by
Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| A Great Buddha statue located in the Daibutsuden (the temple's main hall) at Todaiji Temple on March 2, 2013 in Nara, Japan. The Buddhist Todaiji temple was built in 752 AD and is now one of seven sites in Nara to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Japanese Geisha hold green tea cups during the Baikasai, Plum Blossom Festival at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine on February 25, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan. The annual event takes place on February 25, to commemorate enshrined Michizane Sugawara, a politician and plum-blossom aficionado of the Heian-Period who passed away today in 903. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Japanese men wear loincloths as they enter the Saidaiji Temple during Naked Festival on February 16, 2013 in Okayama, Japan. Saidaiji Naked Festival (Hadaka Matsuri) is one of Japan's more eccentric festivals and sees some 9,000 men take part and battle to grab for pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| White Siberian Swans spend their winter at Tamaoka Lake on February 14, 2013 in Kasai, Japan. Siberian swans have been coming to Kasai since the start of winter and will return back to their homeland at the begining of spring. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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Japanese Shakuhachi player performs at
Zuganji Temple on February 11, 2013 in Himeji, Japan. The Shakuhachi is used in
spiritual meditation and the players wear wicker baskets on their heads to
symbolise their detachment from the world.(Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| A piece of diamond shape chocolate with a 2.3 carat diamond in the centre on display for at a Hanshin Department Store for the upcoming Valentine's day on February 6, 2013 in Osaka, Japan. The chocolate is priced at 3 million yen (about USD 32,456), making it the world's most expensive chocolate. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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People walk at Osaka Station City on February 6,
2013 in Osaka, Japan. Osaka have been ranked the world's most expensive second city
to live, Tokyo as the most expensive city according to research of the British
magazine The Economist. Tokyo topped the list, with an index reading of 152.
Osaka came in second, at 146. Prices of a loaf of bread, other food items and
gasoline were higher than in other cities. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| Japanese macaque monkeys huddle together in a group to protect themselves against the cold weather at Awajishima Monkey Center on January 26, 2013 in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Severe low temperatures has hit Japan with more heavy snowfall. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Japanese sake brewery workers spread out steamed rice for cooling at Tatsuriki sake brewery on January 21, 2013 in Himeji, Japan. The Hyogo prefecture is the largest sake producing region in Japan. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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A man performs ritual ogre dance
as man takes photographs during the Oni Oi annual festival at Shosha Temple on January 18, 2013 in
Himeji, Japan. Two men dress as Red-skinned ogre and a green-skinned ogre
holding a sword, a bell and a flaming torch in their hands perform ritual dance
inside the dark temple building with sounds of the temple bell. Many Japanese
Buddhist temples perform ritual Oni oi festival beginning of the year to pray
for a bountiful harvest and remove misfortune.
(Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
©Buddhika Weerasinghe |
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| A man lights a candle for victims of the 1995 'Great Hanshin earthquake' during a memorial ceremony on January 17, 2013 in Kobe, Japan. Memorial services were held to mark the 18th anniversary of the 1995 massive earthquake, hundreds of people gathered early this morning to pay their respects and light bamboo lanterns in the park for more than 6,400 people who lost their lives in the 7.3 magnitude earthquake. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| 20 years old woman dressed in traditional kimono walks in the rain for
her 'Coming-of-Age Day' celebration at Cultural Hall on January 14, 2013
in Himeji, Japan. The event involves 20-year-old Japanese people
celebrating their eligibility to drink alcohol, smoke and vote. (Photo
by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
The second Monday of January in Japan is annually celebrated as the Coming of Age Day or Seijin no hi in Japanese. This year, the day comes on 14 January when it is time to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year, as well as to celebrate adulthood. |
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| Former Prime Minister and leader of Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe waves to supporters from his car during an election campaign on December 13, 2012 in Osaka, Japan. Japanese voters will go to the polls for a general election on December 16, 2012. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| People admire the Kobe Luminarie illuminations on December 6, 2012 in Kobe, Japan. Some 200,000 electric bulbs are lit up for the annual Japanese illumination event which begun in 1995 to commemorate the victims of the Hanshin Awaji Great Earthquake and this year will take place from December 6 - 17. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Japan Restoration Party leader former Tokyo Govener Shintaro Ishihara (3rd L) speaks to voters as deputy leader Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (3rd R) looks from the roof of a campagin car during their official election party campaign for the upcoming lower house election on December 4, 2012 in Osaka, Japan. Japanese vote in the general election on December 16. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Japanese men ride bicycle under a yellow ginkgo tree on November 28, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. Local residents and tourists visit the city this time of year to observe the changing colors of the ginkgo tree leaves around the Himeji castle. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasine) |
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| A young boy stands in front of an armed vehicle during the annual Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) military demonstration on November 25, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. The military exhibition and demonstration marks the 61-year anniversary of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force based in Himeji. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A man ferries tourists under maple trees on the Katsura river in Arashiyama on November 19, 2012 in Kyoto, Japan. Thousands of tourist come to enjoy the autumn colors of the maple leaves in Kyoto every year. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Misa Kawaisi, chief sake brew master, stirs fermenting sake at Nadagiku-Shozo sake brewery on November 16, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. Kawaishi, one of a few female sake brew masters, is an unique figure in male-diminated sake brewers world. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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Japanese Nasu Animal Kingdom Sakurai Yuki performs owl flies s tourist
take photographs during the demonstration of traditional Japanese
falconry at Himeji Castle on November 4, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. A
demonstration of this kind has not been held at the venue since the
Samurai period. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| A Japanese woman prepares green tea during an outdoor tea ceremony at Zuihoji Temple Park on November 2, 2012 in Kobe, Japan. The tea ceremony originated in 1950 to commemorate the 14th century governor Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his tea master Sen no Rikyu, who are said to have visited this area and enjoyed tea ceremonies here. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Japanese people wearing historical costume participate during the annual Jidai Festival on October 22, 2012 in Kyoto, Japan. Around 2000 people participate in the Jidai Matsuri festival which takes place every year on October 22 on the anniversary of the foundation of Kyoto. Participants dress in authentic costumes from almost every period of Japanese history and parade from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
