You can view all of my videos at my YouTube channel. 26th annual Saio Festival (Meiwa town, June 7-8, 2008). This festival is suppose to remember the ancient imperial town that stood on the same ground from about 660AD to 1330 AD. The area was the official residence of Saio, an unmarried close relative (usually daughter) of the Emperor who served as the head priestess at Ise Shrine. (Length: 9:57) Okihiki Festival (Ise city), May 2007. Every 20 years a special festival is held where the sacred wood used to build the next Grand Shrine of Ise (Ise Jingu) is pulled through the streets of Ise to the shrine (in this case, the outer shrine - Geku). (Length: 3:32) Video from the Sapporo Snow Festival, February 2007. (Length: 3:55) Me (on the right) practicing my Hakama kimono wearing. I went on to come 3rd in the prefecture in the foreigner class (first ranked male foreigner) at the prefectural competition in Yokkaichi. I won a trophy, certificate and 5kg bag of hand-cut Mie rice! Unfortunately they only sent the top 2 to Tokyo for the all-Japan finals. In June, 2006, we had dinner with a Maiko (junior Geisha) in Gion, Kyoto. It still ranks as one of the most amazing things I've experienced here in Japan. The infamous Ninja Movie, made from a whole bunch of random scenes filmed at Ueno during the Ninja festival, 2006. Video from my visit to the Sumo in Osaka, March 2006. Home