Laughing festival in Yamaguchi Pref.

Laughing festival in Yamaguchi Pref.

HOFU, Japan - Waraiko, a rare festival in which residents laugh off the sadness and pain of the year, is held in the Omata district in the city of Hofu in Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan on Dec. 7, 2014. The festival is said to have been held for 800 years in the district.

Laughing festival in Yamaguchi Pref.

Laughing festival in Yamaguchi Pref.

HOFU, Japan - Waraiko, a rare festival in which residents laugh off the sadness and pain of the year, is held in the Omata district in the city of Hofu in Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan on Dec. 7, 2014. The festival is said to have been held for 800 years in the district.

Yokomine wins Belluna ladies for 2nd title of year

Yokomine wins Belluna ladies for 2nd title of year

KANRA, Japan - Sakura Yokomine holds her cup after winning the Belluna Ladies for her second title of the season at Obatago Golf Club in Gunma Prefecture on July 2. Yokomine made six birdies with a lone bogey to finish on 15-under 201, five strokes ahead of closest rivals Yui Kawahara and Namika Omata.

Yokomine wins Belluna ladies for 2nd title of year

Yokomine wins Belluna ladies for 2nd title of year

KANRA, Japan - Sakura Yokomine holds her cup after winning the Belluna Ladies for her second title of the season at Obatago Golf Club in Gunma Prefecture on July 2. Yokomine made six birdies with a lone bogey to finish on 15-under 201, five strokes ahead of closest rivals Yui Kawahara and Namika Omata. (Kyodo)

Year-end laughing festival in western Japan

Year-end laughing festival in western Japan

The Waraiko festival is held in a farming area in western Japan on Dec. 6, 2015, in which residents in formal attire let out three huge laughter -- first to thank the year's harvest, second to wish for good crops in the coming year and third to laugh off the sadness and pain of the year. The festival in the Omata district in the city of Hofu in Yamaguchi Prefecture is said to have been held for 800 years. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Laughing festival in Yamaguchi Pref.

Laughing festival in Yamaguchi Pref.

HOFU, Japan - Waraiko, a rare festival in which residents laugh off the sadness and pain of the year, is held in the Omata district in the city of Hofu in Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan on Dec. 7, 2014. The festival is said to have been held for 800 years in the district. (Kyodo)