Japan: Deer Casually Cross Nara Marathon Course, Delighting Spectators

At the Nara Marathon held on Saturday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 14, unique scenes rarely seen at any other marathon around the world were captured. As thousands of runners sped through the historic streets of the ancient capital, they were quietly watched by deer that live in Nara Park. Some deer casually wandered onto the course as runners passed by, creating heartwarming moments for spectators.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

NARA, Japan, Aug. 7 Kyodo - Monks at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2025, in an annual cleaning event. (Kyodo)

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

Monks at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2025, in an annual cleaning event.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

Monks at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2025, in an annual cleaning event.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha in Nara

Monks at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2025, in an annual cleaning event.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

A pine torch about eight meters long is hung at World Heritage-listed Todaiji Temple's Nigatsu-do hall in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2025, for an annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

A pine torch about eight meters long is hung at World Heritage-listed Todaiji Temple's Nigatsu-do hall in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2025, for an annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752.

Ritual to pour holy water into river in Japan

Ritual to pour holy water into river in Japan

Buddhist monks hold a ritual to pour holy water into the Onyu River in the Sea of Japan coastal city of Obama in Fukui Prefecture on March 2, 2025. It is believed that the water arrives in a well at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara 10 days later.

Ritual to pour holy water into river in Japan

Ritual to pour holy water into river in Japan

Buddhist monks hold a ritual to pour holy water into the Onyu River in the Sea of Japan coastal city of Obama in Fukui Prefecture on March 2, 2025. It is believed that the water arrives in a well at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara 10 days later.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

An annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, dating back to 752, is held at Todai-ji temple's Nigatsudo hall in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2025.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

An annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, dating back to 752, is held at Todai-ji temple's Nigatsudo hall in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2025.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

An annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, dating back to 752, is held at Todai-ji temple's Nigatsudo hall in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2025.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

NARA, Japan, Aug. 7 Kyodo - Monks and others at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep the dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2024, in the annual "ominugui" cleaning event. (Kyodo)

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Monks and others at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep the dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2024, in the annual "ominugui" cleaning event.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Monks and others at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara sweep the dust off the Great Buddha, designated as a national treasure in Japan, on Aug. 7, 2024, in the annual "ominugui" cleaning event.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, is held at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, is held at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, is held at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, is held at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, is held at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 12, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, begins at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, begins at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2024.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, begins at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2024.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Monks and others clean the Great Buddha at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara on Aug. 7, 2023, in an annual "ominugui" cleaning event.

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Annual cleaning of Great Buddha of Nara

Monks and others clean the Great Buddha at Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara on Aug. 7, 2023, in an annual "ominugui" cleaning event.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, begins at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2023.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

The annual "omizutori" water-drawing fire ceremony, which dates back to 752, begins at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on March 1, 2023.

Temple guardian statue to undergo 1st repair in 20 years

Temple guardian statue to undergo 1st repair in 20 years

NARA, Japan - Buddhist priests stand in front of the "Kongo Rikishi Agyo" wooden guardian statue at Todai-ji temple in the ancient capital of Nara in western Japan on Oct. 6, 2014, before the famous sculpture is subjected to the first repair in about 20 years.

Pair of Buddhist guardian statues to undergo repair

Pair of Buddhist guardian statues to undergo repair

KASHIHARA, Japan - One of a pair of medieval wooden Buddhist guardian statues, called Kongo-Rikishi Agyo, at the Great South Gate of the Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, is photographed on July 10, 2014, before the twin national treasures undergo repair work.

Ancient-era coins, pot found at Todai-ji temple

Ancient-era coins, pot found at Todai-ji temple

KASHIHARA, Japan - Five "Wado-kaichin" coins, Japan's first circulated copper coinage, kept in an earthenware pot in the Heian era (eighth-12th centuries), are shown together with the pot at the Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on July 10, 2014.

Ancient-era coins, pot found at Todai-ji temple

Ancient-era coins, pot found at Todai-ji temple

KASHIHARA, Japan - Five "Wado-kaichin" coins, Japan's first circulated copper coinage, kept in an earthenware pot in the Heian era (eighth-12th centuries), are shown together with the pot at the Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, on July 10, 2014.

Ceremony held to send holy water to temple in Nara, Japan

Ceremony held to send holy water to temple in Nara, Japan

TSURUGA, Japan - A Buddhist priest pours holy water into the Onyu River in Obama, Fukui Prefecture on March 2, 2014, as part of a ceremony to send water to the Todai-ji temple in the ancient capital city of Nara. It is believed that the water arrives in a well in the temple's premises 10 days later.

Robot set challenge of passing top university exam

Robot set challenge of passing top university exam

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Dec. 16, 2013 shows Noriko Arai, a mathematician at Japan's National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo who leads the "Can a Robot Get into the University of Tokyo?" project, or the Todai Robot Project for short, to research the field of artificial intelligence.

Japanese ramen restaurant opens test kitchen in Bangkok

Japanese ramen restaurant opens test kitchen in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Thailand - Todai, a Japanese ramen restaurant chain based in the city of Tokushima, opens a test kitchen for people to try its food in a shopping mall in Bangkok on Feb. 13, 2014.

Buddhist treasure repaired

Buddhist treasure repaired

NARA, Japan - The crown for a statue of Fuku Kenjaku Kannon, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, is shown to reporters after repairs in Nara, western Japan, on April 2, 2012. The eighth-century crown with a statue of Buddha attached to it will be exhibited from April 3, 2012, at Todai temple museum in Nara.

Univ. of Tokyo's Hongo Campus

Univ. of Tokyo's Hongo Campus

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2012, shows the University of Tokyo's Hongo Campus in the capital's Bunkyo Ward. The university commonly known as ''Todai'' is widely perceived as the most prestigious university in Japan.

Univ. of Tokyo's 'Akamon'

Univ. of Tokyo's 'Akamon'

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2012, shows ''Akamon,'' meaning the red gate, at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo in the capital's Bunkyo Ward. The university commonly known as ''Todai'' is widely perceived as the most prestigious university in Japan.

Karzai in ancient Japanese capital of Nara

Karzai in ancient Japanese capital of Nara

NARA, Japan - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other members of his delegation visit the Great Buddha statue in the Daibutsuden Hall of Todai temple in Nara, western Japan, on June 20, 2010. Karzai visited the eighth-century capital of Japan on the last day of his five-day trip to the country.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Photo taken March 1, 2022, shows the annual "omizutori" fire ceremony at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan.

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Annual fire festival at Todai-ji temple

Photo taken March 1, 2022, shows the annual "omizutori" fire ceremony at the Nigatsudo hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan.

Annual event at Todai-ji temple

Annual event at Todai-ji temple

Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara is illuminated by torch fire during the Omizutori traditional annual event on March 1, 2021.

Annual event at Todai-ji temple

Annual event at Todai-ji temple

Todai-ji temple in the western Japan city of Nara is illuminated by torch fire during the Omizutori traditional annual event on March 1, 2021.

"Pyramid stupa" in Nara, western Japan, opens to public permanently

"Pyramid stupa" in Nara, western Japan, opens to public permanently

Visitors look at a pyramid-shaped Buddhist stupa in Nara, western Japan, on Sept. 16, 2015. The 10-meter-high stupa, which is believed to have been built by a monk at Todai-ji temple in Nara in 767, became open to the public permanently in August. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Karzai in ancient Japanese capital of Nara

Karzai in ancient Japanese capital of Nara

NARA, Japan - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other members of his delegation visit the Great Buddha statue in the Daibutsuden Hall of Todai temple in Nara, western Japan, on June 20, 2010. Karzai visited the eighth-century capital of Japan on the last day of his five-day trip to the country. (Kyodo)

Buddhist treasure repaired

Buddhist treasure repaired

NARA, Japan - The crown for a statue of Fuku Kenjaku Kannon, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, is shown to reporters after repairs in Nara, western Japan, on April 2, 2012. The eighth-century crown with a statue of Buddha attached to it will be exhibited from April 3, 2012, at Todai temple museum in Nara. (Kyodo)

Temple guardian statue to undergo 1st repair in 20 years

Temple guardian statue to undergo 1st repair in 20 years

NARA, Japan - Buddhist priests stand in front of the "Kongo Rikishi Agyo" wooden guardian statue at Todai-ji temple in the ancient capital of Nara in western Japan on Oct. 6, 2014, before the famous sculpture is subjected to the first repair in about 20 years. (Kyodo)

Pair of Buddhist guardian statues to undergo repair

Pair of Buddhist guardian statues to undergo repair

KASHIHARA, Japan - One of a pair of medieval wooden Buddhist guardian statues, called Kongo-Rikishi Agyo, at the Great South Gate of the Todai-ji temple in Nara, western Japan, is photographed on July 10, 2014, before the twin national treasures undergo repair work. (Kyodo)

Univ. of Tokyo's 'Akamon'

Univ. of Tokyo's 'Akamon'

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2012, shows ''Akamon,'' meaning the red gate, at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo in the capital's Bunkyo Ward. The university commonly known as ''Todai'' is widely perceived as the most prestigious university in Japan. (Kyodo)

Univ. of Tokyo's Hongo Campus

Univ. of Tokyo's Hongo Campus

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2012, shows the University of Tokyo's Hongo Campus in the capital's Bunkyo Ward. The university commonly known as ''Todai'' is widely perceived as the most prestigious university in Japan. (Kyodo)

The Great Bell, Hokoji Temple

The Great Bell, Hokoji Temple

Hoko-ji temple was established by Hideyoshi Toyotomi (Shogun) in Higashiyama-ku,Kyoto-city and was imitated Nara Todai-ji Daibutsu-den. There was a great statue of Buddha, 20 meters in height, several earthquakes and thunderbolts had wreaked havoc on it. And also Daibutsu-den (the Hall of\r\nthe Great Buddha) had lost by fire in 1973. There is the Bonsho (a buddhist temple bell) inscribed Kokka Anko (May the State be peaceful and prosperous) and Kunshin Horaku (May the lord and\r\nvassal be rich and delight) in the precincts. It was the biginning of Osaka no Jin (the Siege of Osaka) and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property today.==Date:unknown, Place:Kyoto, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number106‐32‐0]