Coming-of-Age Day ceremony in Japan

A Japanese twenty-year-old woman attends the annual Coming-of-Age Day ceremony at Phoenix Plaza in Fukui about 320 kilometers west Tokyo on January 9, 2011. The Coming of Age Ceremony is celebrated on the second Monday of January in Japan and its Japanese name成人の日 Seijin no Hi. All young people who turn twenty years old in this year celebrate on Seijin no hi ceremony.
Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood and that age is minimum legal age for voting, drinking and smoking. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y7795

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A Japanese man prepares coffee

A man prepares coffee over the different varieties of coffee boatels at a café in Fukui city about 320 kilometers west Tokyo, Japan on January 4, 2011. Japanese people started to drink coffee about 200 years before and presently one Japanese person drinks about three hundreds coffee cups each year. Holland brought coffee to Japan between the Meji periods (1868-1912). Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y7718

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A general view of the Maruoka castle

Japanese man and woman walk pass the Maruoka castle during the heavy snow fall  at Sakai city, Fukui about 320 kilometers west Tokyo on January 1, 2011.   Maruoka castle was Built by Shibata Katsutoyo, nephew of Shibata Katsuie, in 1576. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y7385

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Japan mark the Year 2011

A Buddhist monk Takahashi Yuho chants and blessing for devotes during the year end annual religious program for celebration to New Year at Daianzenji Buddhist temple in Fukui about 320 kilometers west Tokyo, Japan January 1,2011.pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y6962

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Local tourists enjoy snow in Fukui.

Children make snow man during fall heavy snow at front of the JR station in Fukui, about 320 kilometers west Tokyo in Japan December 31, 2010. They come to Fukui on their New Year holidays. Pic- Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y6318

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Asian People Marks Sixth Anniversary Of Their Most Shock Day-Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Sri Lankan, people remove dead body of child who died Indian Ocean tsunami that hit the island six years ago December 26, 2004. Sri Lanka today commemorates the sixth tsunami anniversary that claimed the lives of more than 30,000 people. On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.15 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh Province triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean. It killed around 226,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other countries. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.(File Picture)

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Christmas Night in Japan

Japanese man dressed as Santa Claus and walks during the heavy snow falling front of the Christmas lights illuminate in Fukui about 320 kilometers west Tokyo Japan December 24, 2010. Christians around the world will gather with family and friends to exchange gifts. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y5670

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Thousands Of Migratory Birds Come To Japan For The Winter

Migratory birds take off from paddy field at Sakai city in Fukui prefecture about 320 kilometers west Tokyo, Japan December 19, 2010. Thousand of migratory birds come to north and west Japan from Siberia and other part of Asia in the winter season.Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y5004

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Kiteboarding Becomes New Modern Water Sport

Kiteboard player, Hisanori Hasegawa practices on the sea of the Sunset Beach at Mikuni city in Fukui about 320 kilometers west Tokyo December 19, 2010. Kiteboarding becomes world wide very fast a new modern water sport. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y5305　

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Japanese ready to celebrate the year of the Rabbit

Japanese girl make rabbit charm at Shrine in Fukui city, about 320 kilometers west Tokyo December 18, 2010. Japanese people celebrate their New Year 1st of January and next year is a rabbit year according to zodiac. Zodiac has a cycle of 12 years each year is represented by an animal. The animals are, in order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar. This year is year of the tiger.

Japanese people buy rabbit charm from Shrine and Buddhist temple on New Year day and wish to bring their life happiness and fortune. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y3833

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Buddhist monks collect alms

Japanese Buddhist monks walk in a street and collecting alms during the snow 
fall in Fukui city, about 320 kilometers west Tokyo December 16, 2010.
Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y35
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Process of Japanese Sake

A sake brewery worker mixes frehs sake  at the  Jozan Sake Brewery in Fukui city about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan, December 6,2010. Sake is an excellent alcoholic beverage in Japan and every year winter is the season of Japanese sake brewer. Japanese sake can be enjoyed either hot or cold. Sake’s history is very long, dating back to the more than two thousand years. Pix-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y2668

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Hakusan

Hakusan(白山) is one most beautiful and worship mountain among the three major mountains in the Japan. Japanese people has been prayed Hakusan in the ancient period because nature and beauty of that mountain. It is the highest mountain in the Hokuriku region. Pix-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.

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Kids perform Kabuki

A kid waits make-up in preparation for a Kabuki performance during a Maruoka Kids Kabuki tenth anniversary plays at indoor stadium, Isobe elementary  school in Fukui prefecture about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan November 20,2010. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/ Street Photo Gallery 844Y 9897.                                                                                                                                                Kids Kabuki in Maruoka tenth anniversary marked two days from November 20 to 21 and they performance most famous Edo period samurai story as known “Chushingura” at Isobe elementary school indoor stadium in Fukui prefecture, Japan.

Fifteen of Japanese elementary and junior school students performed real historical incident, which forty – seven loyal samurai assassination by his junior samurai during the beginning of Edo period in 1701. This story has become famous later in Japan through and turn into a plays, novels movies and kabuki drama.
Kabuki is a popular Japanese musical drama characterized by elaborate costuming and makeup. As well as kids Kabuki program take a place around the country theater in these days.
               

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Snow crab catching in the Sea of Japan.

A commercial crab catching fisherman stands in the vessel during a crab capturing in the Sea of Japan. pictures has taken November 18,2010. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Picture Gallery.844Y7799.

Dozens of seagulls fly and follow a snow crab vessel as they try to catch fallen fish from the snow crab catching net.that beautiful seen I saw when I was came to outdoor area from sleeping quarters below the deck of vessel “Kisshomaru” during the two days journey in Sea of Japan with commercial crabs catching fishermen.

It is so easy for sea gull to find their food without tired. But Echizen crab catching commercial fishermen works not that much easy. About 35 hours continually works under the freezing wind and during that long time has a one or half hour rest each three hours. That is the time of before the pull the crab net. Those small break their use mostly for sleep in cabin quarters and having their food. Sometime they were read the Japanese comedian  pictures books and take rest for their tired mind. 

“Freezing weather hard to work in sea but I so much like to do this job” said Takahiro Sagawa, 19 years old. “I walk out from my high education and find this job in this year. Earlier I did some part time job. “Very difficult to get a job present economic crisis. This is my first crab catching season,” Said Takahiro.

Snow crab is local name of Echizen crab that crab is one of most expensive crab in Japan. As well as that crab is so much delicious. Echizen crab has captured from Echizen city to Mikuni city area at Fukui prefecture in Sea of Japan that located about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo. Every year winter is the season of Echizen crab and this year November 6 started crab capture up to March 20 of next year. 

Male and female crab captured by commercial fishermen that Echizen crabs living about 300 to 400 meters deep in the Sea of Japan.

Minami Teruo, 58 years old last ten years captured crab and he said how difficult to capture Echizen crab in deep see. “This is difficult job. Some time I like some time I don’t like to do this job.”
Minami is worried this year crab price is a less and said, “We captured same quantity of crab but price not as much of last year.”

Commercial Echizen crab catching domestic fisheries market in build up Meiji period during the 1870. Presently, domestic fishermen catching about 350 tone of crab and supply domestic fisheries market annually.
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Daikon from Fukui

A man arranges radish on the huge bamboo frame front of the Agriculture Association in Fukui city about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan November 15, 2010. Agriculture Association of Fukui hold 1400 radish on the bamboo frame to dry that value about 140,000 Yen (1687.80US$). Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y6915

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Inside the quality of Echizen, Snow Crab

A woman sees the fresh crabs live in sea water tank during a Echizen Crab Festival at Sunset Beach in Mikuni, Fukui prefecture, about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan November 14, 2010. Pic- Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y6482

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Shimenawa, a sacred rope

Farmers and salary workers use the rice straw and make huge size Shimenawa at Misuumi Assembly center in Ikeda, Fukui prefecture about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan November 7,2010. These Shimenawa straw ropes hung above the front entrance of Shrine for show to separate the sacred or pure space from people, usually a Shinto Shrine, hung the Shimenawa and mark the entry into a sacred area.
Every year December they change old Shimenawa and set up new one.
Ikeda city is most country side city in Fukui, which city about 20 farmers and salary workers together use their Sunday holiday for make to Shimenawa for 130 Shrine. They supply Ikeda Shimenawa most of Shirne around the Fukui since 1970. Pic- Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y6040

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Fisermen worried Snow Crab price might be less.

A fisherman who is crab catching  shows most expensive Echizen crab against the backdrop of sunset at Mikuni port in Fukui Prefecture, about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo Japan, November 6, 2010. Pic- Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y5600

A fisherman who is crab catching  arranges
most expensive Echizen crab box for selling
crab auction at Mikuni port in Fukui Prefecture,
about 320 kilometers  northwest Tokyo, Japan.
November 6,2010. Pic- Buddhika Weearsinghe /
Street Photo Gallery.844Y5937

 In Japan, Fishermen catching the Echizen Crab who worried this year crab price might be a lesser amount of comparing other years for the reason that country economic and financial crisis. Mikuni Fishing Corporation official said, large size of Echizen crab (snow crab) that weight 1.6 kilogram sold Yen |55,000(USD 676.71) highest price in the last year but that same size Echizen Crab this year sell  Yen 33,400(USD 410.94) during the first day, November 6 Echizen crab auction at fishing market in Mikuni city, Fukui prefecture.

Mikuni port located about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan

Each year Echizen crab catching from November to next year March. Today is a first day of Echizen crab catching on this season and twelve crab catching vessel came to Mikuni port.
Echizen crab is one of most expensive crab and that is big business in Japan. Yellow tag is trade mark of these most expensive crabs which tag even boiling time and serving time can see his big size right hand.
These large size crabs local name is Snow Crabs but that name not much famous as a Echizen crab around the Japan.




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X-mas wedding ceremony

Japanese Tokitaka Yoshizuni, center, and his wife Misato Yoshizuni sees the baby shoe that present received from Santa Claus during a their winter wedding ceremony at AOSSA shopping complex in Fukui city, about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan November 5,2010. In Fukui city, first wedding ceremony of that held front of the huge Christmas tree. 
The wedding couple together lights up the Christmas tree that red and green natural colors of Christmas wedding. Then children wear the Christmas costume and performing music and songs. Pic – Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo gallery.844Y4857

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Mama-san Volleyball

A Japanese mother blocks the ball during a “mama san” volleyball tournament at Tsuruga sport stadium in Fukui prefecture, about 320 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, Japan November 3,2010. Mama san volleyball is one of most famous games among the Japanese mothers all over the country between the ages 30 to 50 years. Most of them are mothers, housewives and amateur players.
Usually in volleyball, each team has six players but "mama san” volleyball has nine players in each team.
In Japan, Fukui prefecture has held a “Mama-san” volleyball tournament in the Tsuruga sport stadium with seventeen teams attending. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/ Street Photo gallery. 844Y4650

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Soba noodles fighting

An elementary school student eats soba noodles during a Soba Fighting annual festival at Miyama city, Fukui prefecture about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo, Japan October 31,2010. Soba are one of the most popular Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour. The noodles are usually cooked and served with various toppings and shoyu (Japanese soy sauce). Soba dishes are often served chilled in the summer and hot in the winter, although different varieties of soba noodles are available all over the country.                                                    

In Fukui prefecture, Oroshi Soba is the most famous soba, topped with daikon (radish) and invented in 1601. That Oroshi soba are a popular inexpensive fast food at JR train stations throughout Fukui prefecture. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.844Y4207

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Traditional method of river fishing-Japan

A man throws the fishing net at Asuwa river in Fukui city about 320 kilometers west Tokyo, Japan October 19,2010. Net fishing is traditional method of river fishing and catching the Ayu fish that has been practiced in Japan for some hundreds years. Ayu fish are amongst the Japanese people's favorite fish that fish catching between summer and winter season. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street photo gallery.844Y3154
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Japan concerns floating of yen

A bank teller counts yen bank notes in Fukui city about 320 kilometer north Tokyo, Japan. Japan concern over the rise of the yen against the dollar after 15-years and government officially announce will take necessary step against extremely currency move. Yen's rise in recent months and U.S. dollar is being traded at 81.33 on Today  Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe. 844Y2644

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River side café of Kakusen-kei Kawadoko at Yamanaka.

People take relax and enjoyed special sweets recipes introduced by Rokusaburo Michiba at river side popular cafe at Kakusen-kei Kawadoko in Yamanaka, Ishikawa prefecture about 295 kilometers from Tokyo, Japan. Most of visitors are enjoy a relaxing time in this beautiful area surrounded by rich greenery and clean water from the stream. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Galeery. 844Y2331

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Man rides the bicycle

A man rides the bicycle over the Asuwa river  against backdrop of sunset in Fukui city about 320 kilometers west of Tokyo, Japan October 6, 2010. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Picture Gallery. 844Y1741

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Dreams of a human chain - Fukui,Japan

A Woman draws her daughter's body shape on the ground during a painting shape of human chain front of the railway station in Fukui city about 320 kilometers west of Tokyo, Japan October 3, 2010. About 60 of people lay down ground and drawing their body shape as a human chain and painting their shape of body two days human chain drawing event that organize by local government office of Fukui. Most of participants paint their own shape of body by their dreams of colors and right the messages “PEACE, FREEDOM, SMILE, LOVE” over the body shape. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery. 844Y1596

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Eco-Candle festival in Fukui, Japan

People light candle during a Eco- candle festival at Ikeda city in Fukui prefecture about 320 kilometers northwest Tokyo in Japan, September 25,2010. Hundreds of people mark Eco- candle festival and light over 25,000 candles and show eco friendly environment at Ikeda city.  Eco-candle festival started five years ago in 2005,
 a campaign to recycle waste cooking oil as well as to show their environmental friendly lifestyle and take attraction for Ikeda city. An important aspect of the Eco-Candle event is that every age of people takes part in making the candles, so all the candles are made by volunteers. Pic-Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery.44Y1185

A Japanese traditional wedding takes in rice field

Ishikawa, Senmaida rice filed is one of the most beautiful view rice filed in Japan and each year two lucky couples will be drawn from a nation-wide lottery to have their wedding ceremony take a place at Senmaida rice filed in September. This year that fortune gets Japan Defense Force, Mizumoto Keiichi, 24 years old younger at Wajima city. His wife is Mizumoto Mami, 23 years old. 

STOP THE RE-DETAINED say forieners live in Japan

A foreign nationalist hold the placard and walks during a protest of against to re-detaining Shinagawa city, Tokyo, September 8, 2010. Pic.Buddhika Weerasinghe/Street Photo Gallery  44Y9653

Dozens foreign nationals live in Japan who were asylum seekers comes road side under the heavy rain and held protest and demanding to authority of Tokyo Immigration stop the re-detaining the after long detaining and threat all of foreigners human way on today, 8th Wednesday at Shinagawa city Tokyo.