[Breaking News]Boat-racing festival for good haul

KUSHIMOTO, Japan, Feb. 9 Kyodo - Youths participate in a boat-racing event in Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 8, 2025, as part of Minato shrine's annual festival to pray for a good haul and business success. (Kyodo)

Boat-racing festival for good haul

Boat-racing festival for good haul

Youths participate in a boat-racing event in Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 8, 2025, as part of Minato shrine's annual festival to pray for a good haul and business success.

Boat-racing festival for good haul

Boat-racing festival for good haul

Youths participate in a boat-racing event in Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 8, 2025, as part of Minato shrine's annual festival to pray for a good haul and business success.

Autumn festival at Munakata Shrine begins

Autumn festival at Munakata Shrine begins

FUKUOKA, Japan, Oct. 1 Kyodo - About 200 fishing boats parade in the Genkai Sea, the southwestern portion of the Sea of Japan, off the city of Munakata in Fukuoka Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 1, 2017, during the Miare Festival, part of the autumn festival at Munakata Shrine, a World Cultural Heritage site. The event is held to pray for the safety of sea traffic and a good haul.

Men brave cold waters in tug-of-war tradition

Men brave cold waters in tug-of-war tradition

TSURUGA, Japan - Men brave cold waters in the town of Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, participating in the traditional in-the-water tug-of-war known as "suichu tsunahiki" on Jan. 19, 2014, to pray for a good haul for the year.

Kyushu shrine conducts 1,300-year-old seaweed-offering event

Kyushu shrine conducts 1,300-year-old seaweed-offering event

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Two priests (L) at Mekari Shrine in Kitakyushu reap wakame seaweed while one priest bears a torch in the early morning at ebb tide of Jan. 26, or Jan. 1 by the lunar calendar, before offering it at the shrine. About 100 people watched the 1,300-year-old annual event held in hopes of safe navigation and a good haul.

Kyushu shrine conducts 1,300-year-old seaweed-offering event

Kyushu shrine conducts 1,300-year-old seaweed-offering event

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Two priests (L) at Mekari Shrine in Kitakyushu reap wakame seaweed while one priest bears a torch in the early morning at ebb tide of Jan. 26, or Jan. 1 by the lunar calendar, before offering it at the shrine. About 100 people watched the 1,300-year-old annual event held in hopes of safe navigation and a good haul. (Kyodo)

Autumn festival at Munakata Shrine begins

Autumn festival at Munakata Shrine begins

About 200 fishing boats parade in the Genkai Sea, the southwestern portion of the Sea of Japan, off the city of Munakata in Fukuoka Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 1, 2017, during the Miare Festival, part of the autumn festival at Munakata Shrine, a World Cultural Heritage site. The event is held to pray for the safety of sea traffic and a good haul. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Autumn festival at Munakata Shrine begins

Autumn festival at Munakata Shrine begins

About 200 fishing boats parade in the Genkai Sea, the southwestern portion of the Sea of Japan, off the city of Munakata in Fukuoka Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 1, 2017, during the Miare Festival, part of the autumn festival at Munakata Shrine, a World Cultural Heritage site. The event is held to pray for the safety of sea traffic and a good haul. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo