Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A man costumed as an ogre takes part in the annual "Dadaoshi" fire festival at Hase temple in Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2023. The festival, which is said to have a 1,000-year history, was held in public after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

A man costumed as an ogre takes part in the annual "Dadaoshi" fire festival at Hase temple in Sakurai in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 14, 2023. The festival, which is said to have a 1,000-year history, was held in public after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - A horseback rider wearing old style riding gear participate in "yoinorikeiba" of the Soma-Nomaoi, a 1,000-year-old traditional festival, in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2014. The number of participants almost returned to the level before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Soma-Nomaoi festival starts in Fukushima Pref.

Soma-Nomaoi festival starts in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - The Soma-Nomaoi, a 1,000-year-old traditional festival, begins in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 26, 2014.

1,000-year-old cherry tree in Fukushima

1,000-year-old cherry tree in Fukushima

MIHARU, Japan - A more than 1,000-year-old cherry tree, known as "a waterfall cherry" because of the resemblance of its branches to the cascading rivulets of a waterfall, is lit up in Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 17, 2014. The 13.5-meter-tall tree is designated as one of Japan's national treasures by the government.

1,000-year-old cherry tree in Fukushima

1,000-year-old cherry tree in Fukushima

MIHARU, Japan - A more than 1,000-year-old cherry tree, known as "a waterfall cherry" because of the resemblance of its branches to the cascading rivulets of a waterfall, is lit up in Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 17, 2014. The 13.5-meter-tall tree is designated as one of Japan's national treasures by the government.

1,000-year-old cherry tree in Fukushima

1,000-year-old cherry tree in Fukushima

MIHARU, Japan - A more than 1,000-year-old cherry tree, known as "a waterfall cherry" because of the resemblance of its branches to the cascading rivulets of a waterfall, is lit up in Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 17, 2014. The 13.5-meter-tall tree is designated as one of Japan's national treasures by the government.

Design of Japan's new 2,000-yen bill

Design of Japan's new 2,000-yen bill

TOKYO, Japan - The front (above) of the new 2,000-yen bill features an illustration of the Shureimon Gate in Naha, a symbol of Okinawa Prefecture, while the reverse shows a scene from the 1,000-year-old literary classic ''The Tale of Genji'' and a portrait of its author, Murasaki Shikibu. The bill, unveiled Oct. 29, will be issued in time for the summit of the G-8 nations in Okinawa next July.