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| People pray for the victims of the Kobe Great Earthquake during a memorial ceremony to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake on January 17, 2012 in Kobe, Japan. People gathered early this morning to pay their respects and light bamboo lanterns in the park for more than 6,000 people who lost their lives in the 7.3 magnitude earthquake. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| 20-year-old Japanese women dressed in traditional kimonos pose for a picture during the Coming of Age Day at Cultural Hall on January 9, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. The event involves 20-year-old Japanese people celebrating their eligibility to drink alcohol, smoke and vote. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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A family flies kites during the 38th National Kyte-Flying Contest at
Himeji Park Horserace Course on January 8, 2012 in Himeji, Japan. Kite
flying is a typical New Year seasonal activity in Japan. Many local people and kite fans arrived to watch about
800 kites of 80 varieties fly from across Japan take a part in the annual kite
flying contest. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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| A Japanese Shinto priestess, Miko (shrine maidens) performs purification dance during the new year blessing at Sosha Shrine on January 1, 2012. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A dragon water sculpture is displayed at the Gokogo Shrine on December 29, 2011 in Himeji, Japan. Japanese zodiac years are commonly associated with the twelve animals Mouse, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig and this coming year will be the year of the Dragon. Japan celebrates their New Year on January 1 of each year, following the Gregorian calendar. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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People make rice cakes, Mochi for
celebrations of the forthcoming Year of the Dragon at Zuiganji temple on
December 28, 2011 in Himeji, Japan. The Japanese calendar is divided into
twelve parts and is commonly associated with the twelve animals, the Rat, Ox,
Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and the Pig.
Sticky rice cakes, or mochi, as the
Japanese call them, are made by pounding the steam rice. Mochi is a traditional
food and decoration which make for Japanese New Year. Kagami Mochi as rice cake
decoration for the new year and usually displayed inside the house, the god of
the new year, to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year. Kagami mochi
is made from two rice cakes (mochi) of
different sizes, the smaller placed over the larger one and Japanese type of
bitter orange placed on top. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)
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| Mikos (shrine maidens) arrange 'Hamaya' (arrows intended to destroy evil spirits) to which 'Emas' (wooden plaques) are attached featuring a picture of dragon in celebration of the forthcoming 'Year of the Dragon' at Sosha Shrine on December 27, 2011 in Himeji, Japan. Japanese years are commonly associated with the twelve animals Rat, Ox Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Participants in Santa costumes race in the Kyoto Santa Claus Marathon on December 23, 2011 in Kyoto, Japan. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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A spider is seen in nest of autumn leave
hang on December 11,2011 in Masui mountain, Himeji city, Japan. (Photo by
Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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Geiko geisha girls receive special fans
from their traditional dance master Inoue Yachiyo (L) as they show their
gratitude for the past year and best wishes for the new year on December 13,
2011 in Kyoto, Japan. The annual ritual is called 'Kotohajime', and is the
start of preparation for the new year. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)
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Photographers take pictures of Maiko and
geiko geisha girls as they walk outside the traditional art and tea house after
showing their gratitude for the past year and best wishes for the new year to their
dance master on December 13, 2011 in Kyoto, Japan. The annual ritual is called
'Kotohajime', and is the start of preparation for the new year. (Photo by Buddhika
Weerasinghe)
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| Candles burn during the One Million People's Candle Night event on December 7, 2011 in Osaka, Japan. For tow hours people were suppose to turn off holiday lights and use candles. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| A professor of Traditional Art Super College of Kyoto, Kosho Sudo carves eye of Buddha statue on December 5, 2011 in Kyoto, Japan. The Buddha statue is being made of pine from Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. About 5,000 people have so far contributed to the carving of the 270 cm high, 180 cm deep statue. When the Buddha statue is finished it will be given to the world famous Kiyomizu Buddhist temple to be displayed to the public from March 11, 2012. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| Anti-nuclear activist hold banners and shouts slogans during a protest beside the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor at Siraki on December 3, 2011 in Tsuruga, Japan. Protesters gathered to call for the closure of troubled Monju nuclear reactor. Members of the Democratic Party of Japan and private sector experts agreed at a government energy policy session last week and the reactor needed to undergo a operational and budgetary review. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
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| People view illuminations during the Kobe Luminarie annual event on December 1, 2011 in Kobe, Japan. The Luminarie festival is held in memory of the over 6,400 people who lost their lives in the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on January 17, 1995. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe) |
