Japan is full of interesting and wonderful traditions. A sentiment embodied in an event I attended recently- a laughing festival. Every year, a select group gather in the town of Hofu to drink sake and laugh- a prelude to good luck in the coming year. It’s organised laughing; serious laughing with rules, rituals, judges and […]
Hagi, my home in Japan, is famous for being an old Samurai town. You can see tour groups following a clip board around town- shuffling around the many gift shops. I recently rediscovered that the old Samurai part of town is quite pretty; I suppose if you cycle past something everyday it eventually blends into […]
Sumo wrestling is spilt into six divisions- wrestlers in the top two divisions are known as sekitori, while lower division wrestlers are referred to as rikishi. Before each round of fighting can begin, each division of wrestlers will perform an opening ceremony- seeming to involve a stomp around the ring, a blessing and some ritualistic […]
snow monkey photography 