(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Japanese entries in the water skiing competition Domu Narita (L) and Mero Narita (R), a brother and sister combination, take the athletes' pledge on Aug. 16 during the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in Akita Prefecture.

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Local Japanese men disguised as ogres, called Namahage, and young women known as ''Komachimusume'' lead a parade of flags and placards of events for the sixth World Games in the opening ceremony Aug. 16 at Yabase Stadium in Akita, Akita Prefecture.

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Foreign athletes participating in the sixth World Games in the northern Japanese city of Akita on Aug. 16 respond to spectators during the opening ceremony at Yabase Stadium. In the background, local people demonstrate their skill at balancing Kanto, a long bamboo pole with horizontal ribs from which paper lanterns hang.

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Flags and placards of around 90 participating countries and regions are paraded Aug. 16 in the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in the northern Japanese city of Akita. Some 2,200 athletes will take part in 31 official and demonstration sports at the games, which end Aug. 26.

(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Japanese entries in the water skiing competition Domu Narita (L) and Mero Narita (R), a brother and sister combination, take the athletes' pledge on Aug. 16 during the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in Akita Prefecture.

A sunset and a sailboat,Lake Biwa

A sunset and a sailboat,Lake Biwa

Maruko boats on Lake Biwa. This photograph seems to imitate the image Yabase-no-Kihan, one of Utagawa Hiroshige's Eight Scenes of Oumi and a representative ukiyoe print. Yabase-no-Kihan captures the scene of the boats used to ferry passengers between Otsu and Yabase (present-day Kusatsu City), returning to port. This was a shortcut on the Tokaido Highway.==Date:unknown, Place:Shiga, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number87‐35‐0]

Yahashi Harbour

Yahashi Harbour

The ferry port of Yabase, famous for its portrayal in the ukiyoe print Yabase-no-Kihan, one of Utagawa Hiroshige's Eight Scenes of Oumi. The site is located in present-day Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. The port prospered as a shortcut from the Tokaido Highway to Otsu. After the Meiji Period, the water of Lake Biwa receded and the area was gradually converted into farmland.==Date:unknown, Place:Shiga, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number71‐5‐0]

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Flags and placards of around 90 participating countries and regions are paraded Aug. 16 in the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in the northern Japanese city of Akita. Some 2,200 athletes will take part in 31 official and demonstration sports at the games, which end Aug. 26.

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Local Japanese men disguised as ogres, called Namahage, and young women known as ''Komachimusume'' lead a parade of flags and placards of events for the sixth World Games in the opening ceremony Aug. 16 at Yabase Stadium in Akita, Akita Prefecture.

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Foreign athletes participating in the sixth World Games in the northern Japanese city of Akita on Aug. 16 respond to spectators during the opening ceremony at Yabase Stadium. In the background, local people demonstrate their skill at balancing Kanto, a long bamboo pole with horizontal ribs from which paper lanterns hang.