Buddhika Weerasinghe

Monday, January 14, 2013

Twenty Years Old Japanese Celebrate Coming Of Age Day


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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Shinzo Abe Of Liberal Democratic Party Makes Street Speech

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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Kobe Luminarie 2012

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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General Election Campaign Officially Begins

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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Yellow Ginkgo Leaves In Himeji

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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Japan Self-Defense Force Himeji Base Military Exhibition

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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Autumn Colours In Kyoto

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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Female Sake Brew Master In Himeji

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 Traditional Falconry Performed At Himeji Castle

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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Outdoor Tea Ceremony

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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Jidai Matsuri In Kyoto

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)

Usuki Lantern Festival

Bump Bamboo Poles

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)

Takara-No-Ichi Ritual Takes Place

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)

Nada Fight Festival 2012

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)

Traditional Japanese Undergarments Known as "Fundoshi,"

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)