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)

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.

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.

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Performers show tourists the ''kyokusui no en'' ancient waterside pastime near a winding stream at Jonangu shrine in Kyoto on April 29, 2010. The performers dressed as the nobles of the Heian Era, which started in 794, make tanka poems before floating cups of sake reach them.

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Performers show tourists the ''kyokusui no en'' ancient waterside pastime near a winding stream at Jonangu shrine in Kyoto on April 29, 2010. The performers dressed as the nobles of the Heian Era, which started in 794, make tanka poems before floating cups of sake reach them.

Heian-period 'Feast on a winding stream' reenacted in Kyoto

Heian-period 'Feast on a winding stream' reenacted in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Watched by a crowd of spectators, the annual ''Kyokusui-no-en,'' a Heian period (AD 794-1185) pastime for nobles, is reenacted in the garden of the Jonan-gu shrine in Kyoto on April 29. Kyokusui-no-en, or feast on a winding stream, was performed by nobles who had to compose a Japanese poem and write it down on a strip of paper before floating cups of sake reached them, or else they had to drink the sake as a penalty.

Heian-period 'Feast on a winding stream' reenacted in Kyoto

Heian-period 'Feast on a winding stream' reenacted in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Watched by a large crowd of spectators, ''Kyokusui-no-en,'' a Heian period (AD 794-1185) pastime for the nobles, is reenacted in the garden of Jonan-gu shrine in Kyoto on April 29. Kyokusui-no-en, or feast on a winding stream, was performed by Heian nobles who must compose a Japanese poem and write it down on a strip of paper before floating cups of sake reach them, or else they must drink up the sake as penalty.

Heinan-period 'Feast on a winding stream' reenacted in Kyoto

Heinan-period 'Feast on a winding stream' reenacted in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Watched by a large crowd of spectators, ''Kyokusui-no-en,'' a Heian period (AD 794-1185) pastime for the nobles, is reenacted in the garden of Jonan-gu shrine in Kyoto on April 29. Kyokusui-no-en, or feast on a winding stream, was performed by Heian nobles who must compose a Japanese poem and write it down on a strip of paper before floating cups of sake reach them, or else they must drink up the sake as penalty. (Kyodo)

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Performers show tourists the ''kyokusui no en'' ancient waterside pastime near a winding stream at Jonangu shrine in Kyoto on April 29, 2010. The performers dressed as the nobles of the Heian Era, which started in 794, make tanka poems before floating cups of sake reach them. (Kyodo)

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

Ancient waterside tanka event in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Performers show tourists the ''kyokusui no en'' ancient waterside pastime near a winding stream at Jonangu shrine in Kyoto on April 29, 2010. The performers dressed as the nobles of the Heian Era, which started in 794, make tanka poems before floating cups of sake reach them. (Kyodo)