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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) |
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| Team of Shrine Parishioners bump bamboo poles during the Usuki Lantern Festival at Usuki Hachiman Shrine on October 21, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. The annual Bamboo Lantern Festival features more than 1000 paper lanterns atop 3 metre long bamboo poles, whereby participants attempt to bump and take down the lanterns of others. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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Japanese Miko shrine maidens attend a ceremony to present an offering
of the first harvest of sacred rice during the Takara-No-Ichi ceremony
at Sumiyoshi Shinto Shrine on October 17, 2012 in Osaka, Japan. The
Takara-No-Ichi Shinto rice harvest ceremony dates back about 1800 years,
and is held annually on October 17 with sacred rice that was planted
June 14. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| Japanese Shrine Parishioners of Matsubara (front), Nakamura (center) and Kiga shrines, carry Yatai (portable shrines) during a parade as part of the Nada No Kenka Matsuri (Nada Fight Festival) at Matsubara on October 15, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. Each Yatai weighs approximately two tonnes. The parade is the highlight of the shrine's Autumn Harvest Festival and attracts roughly 100,000 people. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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A Japanese man wears Fundoshi, or loincloth as he
stands on the side of the road for attends to Nada Kenka Matsuri, or Nada Fight
Festival on October 14, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| Japanese children perform traditional dance during the rehearsal preparation of Nada Kenka Matsuri or Nada Fight Festival at Shirahama town on October 5,2012 in Himeji, Japan. Nada Fighting Festival is one of biggest festival in Japan will hold on October 14 and 15 every years. Seven team of Shrine Parishioners carrying 7 portable shrine carried on the shoulders of the men in the parade and jolted against one another. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A dummies of dress as human stand paddy field during the harvest season on September 16,2012 Himeji, Japan. (photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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Japanese girl walks pass the toy selling
stall during the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival on September 15, 2012 in Kishiwada,
Japan. The Kishiwada Danjiri festival is one of the most dangerous festivals,
during which participants pull portable shrines very fast through the streets
to the music of the flutes, bells and Taiko drums. The festival started 300
hundred years ago to pray for a good harvest. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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Japanese vendor sits inside the chocolate banana
selling stall during the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival on September 15, 2012 in
Kishiwada, Japan. The Kishiwada Danjiri festival is one of the most dangerous
festivals, during which participants pull portable shrines very fast through
the streets to the music of the flutes, bells and Taiko drums. The festival
started 300 hundred years ago to pray for a good harvest. (Photo by Buddhika
Weerasinghe)
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| Team of men pull their portable shrine through the town of Kishiwada during the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival on September 15, 2012 in Kishiwada, Japan. The Kishiwada Danjiri festival is one of the most dangerous festivals, during which participants pull portable shrines very fast through the streets to the music of the flutes, bells and Taiko drums. The festival started 300 hundred years ago to pray for a good harvest. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
