These photos were taken in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture. It is a festival of Yasaka Shrine held on January 20th every year, which is said to be the coldest day on the calendar. On this day about twenty men swim for about 300 meters, carrying a small portable shrine. After that they carry the portable shrine around the town to visit houses and undergo the purification ceremony. It is said that it was originated about 400 years ago.
These are such amazing photographs of activities I can't hardly imagine. We, also have "cold" water swims for various reasons here in the U.S. They're not for me, but, I would love to be at one of them with my camera in tote!
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