Aoi festival dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

Aoi festival dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Some 500 participants in the Aoi Matsuri (festival), which has a history of 1,400 years, process through Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), were leaving Kyoto Palace (background) on their way to Kami-Gamo Shrine.

Comeback queen Fudo wins JLPGA C'ship

Comeback queen Fudo wins JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Yuri Fudo smiles with the trophy after her victory in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 11.

Yokomine ties with Miyazato for second place at JLPGA C'ship

Yokomine ties with Miyazato for second place at JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - JLPGA star Sakura Yokomine ties with Ai Miyazato for second place behind Shiho Oyama in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 10.

Oyama grabs lead at JLPGA C'ship

Oyama grabs lead at JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Shiho Oyama moves into a one-shot lead at 6-under-par 210 with one round left in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 10.

Miyazato ties with Yokomine for second place at JLPGA C'ship

Miyazato ties with Yokomine for second place at JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - JLPGA star Ai Miyazato ties with Sakura Yokomine for second place behind Shiho Oyama in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 10.

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Veteran Toshimi Kimura watches her tee shot during the third round of the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club on Sept. 9. She moved into a tie for the provisional lead with Ai Miyazato, with 24 players unable to complete their round due to thunder and lightning.

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Ai Miyazato smiles at the end of the third round of the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club on Sept. 9. She made a major move toward winning her first major title of the Japan LPGA tour as she moved into a tie for the provisional lead with veteran Toshimi Kimura.

S. Korean Jeong grabs early lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

S. Korean Jeong grabs early lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - South Korea's Jeong Yun Joo fired a 6-under-par 66 to take the sole lead at the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 8.

Aoi festival held in rain

Aoi festival held in rain

KYOTO, Japan - Participants in the annual Aoi Matsuri (festival) process beneath umbrellas in rainy Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), were leaving Kyoto Palace on their way to Kami-Gamo Shrine.

New attire for Kyoto ''Aoi Matsuri'' unveiled

New attire for Kyoto ''Aoi Matsuri'' unveiled

KYOTO, Japan - New attire to be worn by participants in Kyoto's annual ''Aoi Matsuri (festival)'' in May are on display at the Kyoto Imperial Palace on April 19. On May 15, some 500 participants, dressed like nobles in the Heian period (794-1185), take part in a procession that makes its way across the city's Aoi Bridge to Shimo-Gamo Shrine and then to Kami-Gamo Shrine.

S. Korean Jeong grabs early lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

S. Korean Jeong grabs early lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - South Korea's Jeong Yun Joo fired a 6-under-par 66 to take the sole lead at the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 8. (Kyodo)

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Ai Miyazato smiles at the end of the third round of the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club on Sept. 9. She made a major move toward winning her first major title of the Japan LPGA tour as she moved into a tie for the provisional lead with veteran Toshimi Kimura. (Kyodo)

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

Miyazato, Kimura tied for lead at Japan LPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Veteran Toshimi Kimura watches her tee shot during the third round of the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club on Sept. 9. She moved into a tie for the provisional lead with Ai Miyazato, with 24 players unable to complete their round due to thunder and lightning. (Kyodo)

Oyama grabs lead at JLPGA C'ship

Oyama grabs lead at JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Shiho Oyama moves into a one-shot lead at 6-under-par 210 with one round left in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 10. (Kyodo)

Yokomine ties with Miyazato for second place at JLPGA C'ship

Yokomine ties with Miyazato for second place at JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - JLPGA star Sakura Yokomine ties with Ai Miyazato for second place behind Shiho Oyama in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 10. (Kyodo)

Miyazato ties with Yokomine for second place at JLPGA C'ship

Miyazato ties with Yokomine for second place at JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - JLPGA star Ai Miyazato ties with Sakura Yokomine for second place behind Shiho Oyama in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 10. (Kyodo)

Comeback queen Fudo wins JLPGA C'ship

Comeback queen Fudo wins JLPGA C'ship

GAMO, Japan - Yuri Fudo smiles with the trophy after her victory in the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture on Sept. 11. (Kyodo)

New attire for Kyoto ''Aoi Matsuri'' unveiled

New attire for Kyoto ''Aoi Matsuri'' unveiled

KYOTO, Japan - New attire to be worn by participants in Kyoto's annual ''Aoi Matsuri (festival)'' in May are on display at the Kyoto Imperial Palace on April 19. On May 15, some 500 participants, dressed like nobles in the Heian period (794-1185), take part in a procession that makes its way across the city's Aoi Bridge to Shimo-Gamo Shrine and then to Kami-Gamo Shrine.

Aoi festival held in rain

Aoi festival held in rain

KYOTO, Japan - Participants in the annual Aoi Matsuri (festival) process beneath umbrellas in rainy Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), were leaving Kyoto Palace on their way to Kami-Gamo Shrine. (Kyodo)

Aoi festival dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

Aoi festival dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Some 500 participants in the Aoi Matsuri (festival), which has a history of 1,400 years, process through Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), were leaving Kyoto Palace (background) on their way to Kami-Gamo Shrine. (Kyodo)