Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

[Breaking News]Purification ritual at western Japan shrine

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, Sept. 21 Kyodo - Men carrying a portable shrine participate in a water purification ceremony to pray for an abundant catch and maritime safety at Katsuura Hachiman shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025. (Kyodo)

E

Purification ritual at western Japan shrine

Men carrying a portable shrine participate in a water purification ceremony to pray for an abundant catch and maritime safety at Katsuura Hachiman shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

E

World Exposition in Osaka

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura (2nd from L), Wakayama Deputy Gov. Izumi Miyazaki (3rd from L) and Shiga Gov. Taizo Mikazuki (4th from L) carry a portable mikoshi shrine in front of the Kansai Pavilion at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 6, 2025, in honor of the late Wakayama Gov. Shuhei Kishimoto who died in April. The Kansai Pavilion showcases exhibitions from nine prefectures in the Kansai region.

E

Purification ritual at western Japan shrine

Men carrying a portable shrine participate in a water purification ceremony to pray for an abundant catch and maritime safety at Katsuura Hachiman shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 15, 2024.

E

Purification ritual at western Japan shrine

Men carrying a portable shrine participate in a water purification ceremony to pray for an abundant catch and maritime safety at Katsuura Hachiman shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 15, 2024.

E

Japan festival in Jakarta

Indonesian people carry a portable mikoshi shrine as a two-day festival aimed to promote Japanese culture in Indonesia begins in Jakarta on Sept. 14, 2024.

E

Fire festival in western Japan

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, July 14 Kyodo - White-robed men hold up flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Nachikatsuura, western Japan, on July 14, 2024. (Kyodo)

E

"Mikoshi" shrine cruises bay in northeastern Japan

A ship carrying a "mikoshi" portable shrine from Shiwahiko shrine in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, cruises across Matsushima Bay, escorted by about 100 fishing boats decorated with traditional Japanese fishermen's flags, during Shiogama Minato Festival on July 15, 2024.

E

"Mikoshi" shrine cruises bay in northeastern Japan

A ship carrying a "mikoshi" portable shrine from Shiogama shrine in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, cruises across Matsushima Bay, escorted by about 100 fishing boats decorated with traditional Japanese fishermen's flags, during the Shiogama Minato Festival on July 15, 2024.

E

Purification ritual at western Japan shrine

Men carrying a portable shrine participate in a water purification ceremony to pray for an abundant catch and maritime safety at Katsuura Hachiman shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 17, 2023.

E

SUMMER SOUNDS

SUMMER SOUNDS, Sanja Festival, Asakusa, Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Street, masks, mikoshi, portable shrine=Date:June 1, 1994, Place:Asakusa,Tokyo,JAPAN

E

Mt. Fuji reopens for climbers

People carry a portable "mikoshi" shrine to pray for the safety of climbers at Fujisan Komitake shrine located at the fifth station of Mt. Fuji in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, on July 1, 2023. The summer climbing season for the highest mountain in Japan officially began the same day, with the opening of a route on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the 3,776-meter volcano.

E

Mt. Fuji reopens for climbers

People carry a portable "mikoshi" shrine to pray for the safety of climbers at Fujisan Komitake shrine located at the fifth station of Mt. Fuji in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, on July 1, 2023. The summer climbing season for the highest mountain in Japan officially began the same day, with the opening of a route on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the 3,776-meter volcano.

E

Sanja Festival in Tokyo's Asakusa

People carry a portable shrine called mikoshi at the Sanja Festival near the Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo on May 20, 2023. The festival had been held in a restricted manner from 2020 to 2022 due to the coronavius pandemic.

E

Sanja Festival in Tokyo's Asakusa

People carry a portable shrine called mikoshi at the Sanja Festival near the Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo on May 20, 2023. The festival had been held in a restricted manner from 2020 to 2022 due to the coronavius pandemic.

E

Sanja Festival in Tokyo's Asakusa

People carry a portable shrine called mikoshi at the Sanja Festival near the Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo on May 20, 2023. The festival had been held in a restricted manner from 2020 to 2022 due to the coronavius pandemic.

E

Orca portable shrine seen in Nagasaki Kunchi festa

NAGASAKI, Japan - A portable shrine signifying orca is carried at the Nagasaki Kunchi festival at Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 7, 2014, the opening day of the three-day festival.

E

'Gal Mikoshi' carried at summer festival

OSAKA, Japan - Women enthusiastically carry a "Gal Mikoshi" (all-female portable shrine) through a shopping arcade in Osaka, western Japan, on July 23, 2014, on the eve of the annual Tenjin Festival.

E

Heian-style procession in Tottori Pref.

YONAGO, Japan - People dressed in ancient attire from the Heian era (794-1192) carry a ''mikoshi'' (portable shrine) along the approach of Daisenji, a Buddhist temple in Daisen, Tottori Prefecture, on May 24, 2014.

E

Sanja Festival in Tokyo's Asakusa

TOKYO, Japan - Local people carry a mikoshi (portable shrine) through the Nakamise Dori shopping street in Tokyo's Asakusa district on May 17, 2014, the second day of the annual Sanja Matsuri (Sanja Festival), which has a history of about 700 years and is one of the three-biggest festivals in Japan. Some 100 portable shrines from the district's 44 neighborhoods were paraded in the district.

E

Sanja Festival in Tokyo's Asakusa

TOKYO, Japan - A mikoshi (portable shrine) carried by local people is paraded under the Kaminari Gate of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa in central Tokyo on May 17, 2014, during the annual Sanja Matsuri (Sanja Festival) on May 17, 2014. About 100 portable shrines from the district's 44 neighborhoods were carried through the area on the second day of the three-day festival, which has a history of about 700 years and is one of the three-biggest festivals in Japan.

E

Matsuno Taisha shrine in Kyoto holds festival

OSAKA, Japan - A "mikoshi" portable shrine of Matsuno Taisha in Kyoto is brought to the Katsura River by men during the "Shinkosai" festival on April 20, 2014.

E

Kyoto shrine's 'mikoshi' crosses Katsura River

KYOTO, Japan - A boat carries a "mikoshi" portable shrine of Matsuno Taisha in Kyoto across the Katsura River during the "Shinkosai" festival on April 20, 2014.

E

'Hina' doll festival in Tokushima, Japan

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Children from a nursery carry a miniature "mikoshi" portable shrine in front of a tiered platform of some 30,000 dolls on display ahead of a "hina" doll festival in Katsuura, Tokushima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Feb. 23, 2014. The event, a precursor to the March 3 Girls' Day festival, will run through April 6.

E

Indonesian girls carry Japanese portable shrine

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Teenage Indonesian girls carry a Japanese portable shrine, a festival item in Japan, in Jakarta on Aug. 25, 2013, as part of events in step with a sumo tournament held in the Indonesian capital. The Japan Sumo Association held its first-ever tournament in Southeast Asia in Jakarta on Aug. 24-25. (Photo by Junko Ozaki)

E

Sanja festival in Asakusa

TOKYO, Japan - A portable shrine is carried in the Sensoji temple precinct in Tokyo's Asakusa district on May 18, 2013, during the annual Sanja Matsuri, one of Japan's biggest festivals.

E

Sanja festival in Asakusa

TOKYO, Japan - A portable shrine is carried in the Sensoji temple precinct in Tokyo's Asakusa district on May 18, 2013, during the annual Sanja Matsuri, one of Japan's biggest festivals.

E

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Maiko Nagase (L), sitting in a portable shrine in traditional Japanese costume, chats with her parents during the annual Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto on May 15, 2013. She was chosen to play the role of Saiodai, the heroine of the annual festival, one of the three main festivals in the ancient western capital.

E

Shinto adapting to era of globalization

TOKYO, Japan - Ambassadors to Japan and their family members carry a "mikoshi" portable shrine at Kanda Myojin, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, on Oct. 27, 2012 during a seminar about Shintoism co-hosted by the Association of Shinto Shrines.

E

Anime fans at Saitama shrine festival

KUKI, Japan - Fans of the comic and animation series ''Lucky Star,'' some in costume, carry a portable shrine decorated with images of characters from the series as part of the annual Haji Festival of Washinomiya Shrine in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 4, 2011. The venue has special significance for ''Lucky Star'' fans, as it is the inspiration for a shrine featured in the series.

E

Anime fans at Saitama shrine festival

KUKI, Japan - Fans of the comic and animation series ''Lucky Star,'' some in costume, carry a portable shrine decorated with images of characters from the series as part of the annual Haji Festival of Washinomiya Shrine in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 4, 2011. The venue has special significance for ''Lucky Star'' fans, as it is the inspiration for a shrine featured in the series.

E

'Gal Mikoshi,' portable shrine carried by girls

OSAKA, Japan - Young women carry a 200-kilogram ''mikoshi,'' or portable shrine, during the 31st ''Gal Mikoshi'' festival in Osaka, western Japan, on July 23, 2011. A total of 80 women aged 15 to 30, selected from among 330 applicants after undergoing tests to check their physical strength, took part in the event.

E

'Cosplay' mecca in Saitama

SAITAMA, Japan - Girls dressed as ''manga'' comic characters pose for photos in front of a portable Shinto shrine decorated with ''Lucky Star'' manga characters, at Kuki City in Saitama Prefecture on Sept. 5, 2010, during the area's traditional Haji Festival. The area has become a mecca for ''cosplay'' fans, thanks to the manga based there.

E

Girl power at Osaka summer festival

Osaka, Japan - Young Japanese women carry a ''mikoshi'' portable shrine as they march through a local shopping area in Osaka during an event July 23, 2010, ahead of the Tenjin summer festival. A total of 120 women, with the average age of 21, had been selected from some 400 applicants after a physical test using a 70-kilogram weight.

E

People celebrate 20th anniversary of emperor's enthronement

TOKYO, Japan - People carry a ''mikoshi'' (portable shrine) during a parade to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 12, 2009.

E

Women carry portable shrine at Osaka Tenjin Festival

OSAKA, Japan - Women aged between 16 and 39 carry a portable shrine along a shopping street in Osaka on July 23 during the annual Tenjin Festival.

E

Women carrying portable shrine featured at Osaka Tenjin Festival

OSAKA, Japan - Women aged 16 and 39 carry a portable shrine on a shopping street in Osaka on July 23 featured at the annual Tenjin Festival.

E

Women carry portable shrine in Tenjin Festival in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - A mikoshi, or portable shrine, is carried by women through a shopping street in Osaka on July 23 as part of the 1000-year-old Tenjin Festival.

E

Women carry portable shrine in Tenjin Festival

OSAKA, Japan - Women carry portable shrines past the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and through the streets in Osaka in the annual Tenjin Festival on July 23.

E

Women carry portable shrine in Tenjin Festival

OSAKA, Japan - Women carry portable shrines past the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and through the streets in Osaka in the annual Tenjin Festival on July 23.

E

Shinto objects at Imperial Palace moved ahead of anti-quake work

TOKYO, Japan - Led by a ritual conductor clad in white robes, servants and officials carry a ''ohaguruma'' portable shrine in a ceremony May 29 to move the sacred objects that symbolize imperial ancestors and various gods from the Imperial Palace's three main ritual rooms to a temporary room as the main rooms are to undergo anti-quake reinforcement work. (Pool photo)

E

Women carry ''Tengu'' portable shrine

NUMATA, Japan - About 200 women carry a portable shrine featuring ''tengu (long-nosed goblin) at the annual ''Tengu Mikoshi'' festival in Numata, Gunma Prefecture, on Aug. 3.

E

Kanda Festival held in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - People carrying a portable shrine take to the streets during the Kanda Festival, one of the three major festivals in Tokyo on May 9.

E

Jidai Matsuri held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - The annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Times) is held in Kyoto on Oct. 22, featuring a procession of people dressed in colorful costumes from various periods in Japanese history. Photo shows the procession leaving the Heian Shrine with a portable shrine for the Kyoto Imperial Palace prior to the start of the procession.

E

Tenjin Festival opens in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Young woman carry a portable shrine through the streets of Osaka on July 23 in the annual Tenjin Festival of Temmangu Shrine, one of the biggest festivals in Japan.

E

(1)Big crowds enjoy Sanja Festival in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Both locals and visitors are in a festive mood May 17 as portable shrines (mikoshi) parade through the streets of Asakusa in the annual Sanja Matsuri, one of the three major festivals in Tokyo along with the Kanda Matsuri and Sanno Matsuri. Sanja Matsuri is a festival of Asakusa Shrine located adjacent to Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Taito Ward.

E

Festival of the Times held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - The annual Jidai Matsuri, or Festival of the Times, is held in Kyoto, featuring a procession of people dressed in colorful costumes from various periods in Japanese history. The photo shows the procession leaving the Heian Shrine with a portable shrine for the Kyoto Imperial Palace prior to the start of the procession.

E

(5)Closing ceremony for 2002 World Cup

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Young people carry a portable shrine past a nearby 'Mt. Fuji' during the 2002 World Cup closing ceremony at International Stadium Yokohama on June 30. (World Cup 2002)

E

(4)Closing ceremony for 2002 World Cup

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Young people carry a portable shrine during the 2002 World Cup closing ceremony at International Stadium Yokohama on June 30. (World Cup 2002)

E

Portable shrine paraded through streets in Sanja Matsuri

TOKYO, Japan - Crowds flock around a portable shrine being carried through the streets of Asakusa in Tokyo's Taito Ward on May 19, the last day of the three-day Sanja Matsuri festival of Asakusa Shrine.