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Sumo: ring-entering ritual

Sumo: ring-entering ritual

Sumo grand champion Hoshoryu performs a ring-entering ritual at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Oct. 9, 2025.

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Sumo: ring-entering ritual

Sumo: ring-entering ritual

Sumo grand champion Hoshoryu performs a ring-entering ritual at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Oct. 9, 2025.

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Sumo: ring-entering ritual

Sumo: ring-entering ritual

Sumo grand champion Hoshoryu (C) performs a ring-entering ritual at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Oct. 9, 2025.

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, May 15 Kyodo - A woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess (far R), clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, arrives at Kyoto's Shimogamo shrine during a parade in the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025. (Kyodo)

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

Aoi Festival in Kyoto

A woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess (far R), clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, arrives at Kyoto's Shimogamo shrine during a parade in the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025.

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

Aoi Festival in Kyoto

A palanquin carrying a woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess, clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, parades at Kyoto's Shimogamo shrine during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025.

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[Breaking News]"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Kyoto shrine

KYOTO, Japan, May 4 Kyodo - An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2025. (Kyodo)

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"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Kyoto shrine

"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2025.

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"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Kyoto shrine

"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 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.

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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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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 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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Ritual for Aoi festival in Kyoto

Ritual for Aoi festival in Kyoto

A woman clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, having been chosen to play this year's Saio-dai heroine during upcoming Aoi Festival in Kyoto, purifies herself at Shimogamo shrine in the western Japan city on May 4, 2024.

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Ritual for Aoi festival in Kyoto

Ritual for Aoi festival in Kyoto

A woman clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, having been chosen to play this year's Saio-dai heroine during upcoming Aoi Festival in Kyoto, purifies herself at Shimogamo shrine in the western Japan city on May 4, 2024.

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Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2023. About 30,000 people watched the annual event.

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Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2023. About 30,000 people watched the annual event.

  •  
Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2023. About 30,000 people watched the annual event.

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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)

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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, 2024.

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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, 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.

  •  
Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2023. About 30,000 people watched the annual event.

  •  
Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2023. About 30,000 people watched the annual event.

  •  
Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine

An archer shoots an arrow while riding a horse during the "Yabusame Shinji" rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2023. About 30,000 people watched the annual event.

  •  
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.

  •  
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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Ancient football

Ancient football

KYOTO, Japan - Men in Heian era (eighth to 12th centuries) aristocratic attire demonstrate ''kemari'' (ancient football) in an event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2012.

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Ancient ball-kicking game shown in Kyoto

Ancient ball-kicking game shown in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - An ancient ball-kicking game is demonstrated at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4.

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Ancient court football game played at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football game played at Kyoto shrine

KYOTO, Japan - People clad in ancient Japanese court attire play a "kemari" football game at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Jan. 4, 2015, during a New Year festival.

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People clad as ancient courtiers play football game

People clad as ancient courtiers play football game

KYOTO, Japan - People dressed in ancient Japanese court attire play a "kemari" football game at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Jan. 4, 2015, before a large crowd of tourists gathered to watch the traditional New Year event.

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Ancient court football game played at shrine festival

Ancient court football game played at shrine festival

KYOTO, Japan - People clad in ancient Japanese court costumes play a "kemari" football game at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Jan. 4, 2015, at a New Year festival.

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Traditional Kemari event held to pray for Japan's victory in World Cup

Traditional Kemari event held to pray for Japan's victory in World Cup

KYOTO, Japan - A man in Heian era (eighth to 12th century) aristocratic attire kicks a ball made of deer skin at a "Kemari" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 31, 2014. The event was held to pray for Japan's victory in the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil.

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Traditional Kemari event held to pray for Japan's victory in World Cup

Traditional Kemari event held to pray for Japan's victory in World Cup

KYOTO, Japan - Hidetoshi Nakata (2nd from R), a former top Japanese soccer player, walks wearing Heian era (eighth to 12th century) aristocratic attire to attend a "Kemari" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 31, 2014. The event was held to pray for Japan's victory in the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil.

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Ancient court-style parade held in Kyoto

Ancient court-style parade held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - A procession of people dressed as nobles in ancient court-style attire from the Heian era (794-1192) reaches the Shimogamo Shrine on May 15, 2014, during the Aoi Festival, one of three major festivals in Kyoto, western Japan.

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Ancient court-style parade held in Kyoto

Ancient court-style parade held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - A procession of people dressed as nobles in ancient court-style attire from the Heian era (794-1192) goes through the Shimogamo Shrine on May 15, 2014, during the Aoi Festival, one of three major festivals in Kyoto, western Japan.

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"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - An archer in traditional costume shoots an arrow while riding a horse at full speed during the annual "Yabusame Shinji" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2014. Archers shot at three 50-centimeter-square targets set at 100-meter intervals. About 22,000 visitors watched the event.

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"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

"Yabusame" mounted archery rite at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - An archer in traditional costume shoots an arrow while riding a horse at full speed during the annual "Yabusame Shinji" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on May 3, 2014. Archers shot at three 50-centimeter-square targets set at 100-meter intervals. About 22,000 visitors watched the event.

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Parade ushers in 2015 rebuilding of Kyoto shrine complex

Parade ushers in 2015 rebuilding of Kyoto shrine complex

KYOTO, Japan - A parade is held in Kyoto, western Japan, on April 27, 2014, to commemorate the "Shikinen Sengu" periodic renewal next year of a main sanctuary and other buildings at Shimogamo Shrine, one of the World Heritage sites in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Women wear ancient court robes in Kyoto shrine parade

Women wear ancient court robes in Kyoto shrine parade

KYOTO, Japan - Women wear "junihitoe" (12-layer robes), a type of court attire, as participants in a parade held in Kyoto, western Japan, on April 27, 2014, to commemorate the "Shikinen Sengu" periodic renewal next year of a main sanctuary and other buildings at Shimogamo Shrine, one of the World Heritage sites in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Horse-led carriage leaves Kyoto shrine for parade

Horse-led carriage leaves Kyoto shrine for parade

KYOTO, Japan - A horse-led carriage leaves Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on April 27, 2014, for a parade to commemorate the "Shikinen Sengu" periodic renewal next year of a main sanctuary and other buildings at the Shinto shrine, one of the World Heritage sites in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Roof rethatched at Kyoto world heritage shrine

Roof rethatched at Kyoto world heritage shrine

KYOTO, Japan - Work to periodically rethatch the roof of a main hall of Shimogamo Shrine, a World Cultural Heritage site in Kyoto, western Japan, is opened to the press on April 21, 2014.

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Carpenters renew thatch of world heritage shrine in Kyoto

Carpenters renew thatch of world heritage shrine in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Carpenters replace the thatch of a main hall of Shimogamo Shrine, a World Cultural Heritage site in Kyoto, western Japan, on April 21, 2014.

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Traditional Kemari event held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

Traditional Kemari event held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - A man in Heian era (eighth to 12th century) aristocratic attire keeps a soccer ball in the air during an traditional annual "Kemari-hajime" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2014. The soccer ball was used instead of a traditional ball made of deer skin in tribute to the World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil this year. In Kemari, players continue kicking the mari (ball) in the air to a fixed height as many times as possible.

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Traditional Kemari event held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

Traditional Kemari event held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People in Heian era (eighth to 12th century) aristocratic attire kick a soccer ball, instead of a traditional ball made of deer skin, in an annual "Kemari-hajime" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2014. The soccer ball was used in tribute to the World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil this year. In Kemari, players continue kicking the mari (ball) in the air to a fixed height as many times as possible.

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Traditional Kemari event held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

Traditional Kemari event held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People in Heian era (eighth to 12th century) aristocratic attire kick a ball made of deer skin in a traditional annual "Kemari-hajime" event at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2014. In Kemari, players continue kicking the mari (ball) in the air to a fixed height as many times as possible.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Men dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185) move in a procession during the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals in Kyoto, in the western city on May 15, 2013. Some 500 participants walked around 8 kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines during the festival dating back 1,400 years.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Men dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185) move in a procession with a decorated ox cart during the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals in Kyoto, in the western city on May 15, 2013. Some 500 participants walked around 8 kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines during the festival dating back 1,400 years.

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