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[Breaking News]New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, Jan. 3 Kyodo - Women dressed in traditional attire from ancient Heian period play karuta traditional card game in a New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2026.

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Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

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Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

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New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

Women dressed in traditional attire from ancient Heian period play karuta traditional card game in a New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2026. ==Kyodo

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New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

Women dressed in traditional attire from ancient Heian period play karuta traditional card game in a New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2026. ==Kyodo

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New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

Women dressed in traditional attire from ancient Heian period play karuta traditional card game in a New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2026. ==Kyodo

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Repainted Heian Jingu outer hall

Repainted Heian Jingu outer hall

Photo taken on Dec. 19, 2025, shows the Daigokuden outer hall of worship at Heian Jingu shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, following repainting and seismic reinforcement work.

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Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, Oct. 22 Kyodo - People impersonating historical figures from various eras leave the Heian Jingu shrine in the ancient capital of Kyoto on Oct. 22, 2025, during the annual Jidai Matsuri parade dating back to 1895.

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Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

People impersonating historical figures from various eras leave the Heian Jingu shrine in the ancient capital of Kyoto on Oct. 22, 2025, during the annual Jidai Matsuri parade dating back to 1895.

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Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

People impersonating historical figures from various eras leave the Heian Jingu shrine in the ancient capital of Kyoto on Oct. 22, 2025, during the annual Jidai Matsuri parade dating back to 1895.

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Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

Parade of historical figures in Kyoto

People impersonating historical figures from various eras leave the Heian Jingu shrine in the ancient capital of Kyoto on Oct. 22, 2025, during the annual Jidai Matsuri parade dating back to 1895. ==Kyodo

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

Aoi Festival in Kyoto

People dressed in court-style attire from the Heian period (794-1185) leave Kyoto Imperial Palace for a parade with a court carriage during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025.

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Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2025.

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Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2025.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2025.

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Japanese "karuta" card game

Japanese "karuta" card game

Women in traditional attire from the ancient Heian period play "karuta," a traditional Japanese card game, during an annual New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2025.

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Japanese "karuta" card game

Japanese "karuta" card game

Women in traditional attire from the ancient Heian period play "karuta," a traditional Japanese card game, during an annual New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2025.

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Japanese "karuta" card game

Japanese "karuta" card game

Women in traditional attire from the ancient Heian period play "karuta," a traditional Japanese card game, during an annual New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2025.

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Actress Mizuki takes part in ancient imperial boating party reenacted in Kyoto

Actress Mizuki takes part in ancient imperial boating party reenacted in Kyoto

Japanese actress and singer Arisa Mizuki rides a boat in a reenactment of an imperial boating party from the Heian period (794-late 12th century) during the annual Mifune festival in Kyoto on May 21, 2023.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

People in historical costumes leave the Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto during the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) parade on Oct. 22, 2024.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

People in historical costumes leave the Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto during the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) parade on Oct. 22, 2024.

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Ancient imperial boat celebration reenacted in Kyoto

Ancient imperial boat celebration reenacted in Kyoto

People dressed in ancient Japanese court-style attire are seen on boats floating down the Oigawa River in the western Japan city of Kyoto on May 19, 2024, during the annual Mifune festival, known for its reenactment of an imperial boating party from the Heian period (794-1185).

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Ancient imperial boat celebration reenacted in Kyoto

Ancient imperial boat celebration reenacted in Kyoto

People dressed in ancient Japanese court-style attire are seen on boats floating down the Oigawa River in the western Japan city of Kyoto on May 19, 2024, during the annual Mifune festival, known for its reenactment of an imperial boating party from the Heian period (794-1185).

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, May 15 Kyodo - People dressed in traditional costumes of the ancient Heian period (794-1185) parade through Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 15, 2024, with a palanquin carrying a woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital. (Kyodo)

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

People dressed in traditional costumes of the ancient Heian period (794-1185) parade with an ancient style court carriage during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, on May 15, 2024.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

People dressed in traditional costumes of the ancient Heian period (794-1185) parade through Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 15, 2024, with a palanquin carrying a woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital.

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Princess Aiko visits exhibition on The Tale of Genji

Princess Aiko visits exhibition on The Tale of Genji

Japanese Princess Aiko (L) visits a special exhibition featuring the Heian period work of literature The Tale of Genji at the National Archives of Japan in Tokyo on May 11, 2024. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits exhibition on The Tale of Genji

Princess Aiko visits exhibition on The Tale of Genji

Japanese Princess Aiko visits a special exhibition featuring the Heian period work of literature The Tale of Genji at the National Archives of Japan in Tokyo on May 11, 2024. (Pool photo)

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Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

KYOTO, Japan Kyodo - People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2024. (Kyodo)

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2024.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2024.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2024.

  •  
Japanese "karuta" card game

Japanese "karuta" card game

Women in traditional attire from the ancient Heian period play "karuta," a traditional Japanese card game, during an annual New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2024.

  •  
Japanese "karuta" card game

Japanese "karuta" card game

Women in traditional attire from the ancient Heian period play "karuta," a traditional Japanese card game, during an annual New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2024.

  •  
Japanese "karuta" card game

Japanese "karuta" card game

Women in traditional attire from the ancient Heian period play "karuta," a traditional Japanese card game, during an annual New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2024.

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Outdoor poetry party in Kyoto

People dressed in traditional attire take part in "Kyokusui no En," a reenactment of the Heian aristocrats' poetry party, in a garden at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine in the western Japan city of Kyoto on Nov. 3, 2023. (Kyodo)

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Outdoor poetry party in Kyoto

Outdoor poetry party in Kyoto

A sake cup is sent flowing down a stream in a garden during Kyokusui no En, a reenactment of the Heian aristocrats' poetry party, at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine in the western Japan city of Kyoto on Nov. 3, 2023.

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Outdoor poetry party in Kyoto

Outdoor poetry party in Kyoto

People dressed in traditional attire take part in "Kyokusui no En," a reenactment of the Heian aristocrats' poetry party, in a garden at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine in the western Japan city of Kyoto on Nov. 3, 2023.

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

Aoi Festival in Kyoto

People dressed as nobles of the ancient Heian Era parade in the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden during the Aoi Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on May 16, 2023.

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

Aoi Festival in Kyoto

People dressed as nobles of the ancient Heian Era parade in the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden during the Aoi Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on May 16, 2023.

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Ex-Japanese emperor, empress in Kyoto

Ex-Japanese emperor, empress in Kyoto

Former Japanese Emperor Akihito (front row, L) and former Empress Michiko (front row, R) watch a parade by people dressed as nobles of the ancient Heian Era during the Aoi Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on May 16, 2023. (Pool photo)

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Ex-Japanese emperor, empress in Kyoto

Ex-Japanese emperor, empress in Kyoto

Former Japanese Emperor Akihito (front row, 2nd from R) and former Empress Michiko (front row, R) watch a parade by people dressed as nobles of the ancient Heian Era during the Aoi Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on May 16, 2023. (Pool photo)

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Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2023.

  •  
Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period, at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2023.

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