On the way to the falls
Tristan, David, Dave and Ryam after digging in the sand in search of treasure, in the rain, at Shirahama Beach
Carrying the Torch
Carrying the torch
50kg Pine Torch. the heat was almost too much as it passed by my elevated position
Balancing Act. The worshippers acted in teams, with the torch being passed half way through the festival
Up and up
Steady
The torches begin to wobble
Twelve torches in total were carried up the steps to the waiting portabel shrines and then back down in a continuing circuit
It looks like the middle of the night, but was only two o'clock. The Typhoon and canopy conspired to make the fire more dramatic
The Pine torches wear down.
Disintegrating
Spitting Sake.
Wobbly
Small wooden buckets lined the cnetre of the steps. I thought they were filled with water that the men would splash on each other to keep cool. Some were, but otherscontained Sake
Fanning the flames
And back up again
Getting ready to spray the torch
Flaring the torch
Soaked
Cleansing the Shrines
Returning to the falls
Portable Shrines
Each built in the likeness of the falls, and for one of the twelve deities
A few hours after the Typhoon, playing frisbee in the detritus on nachi Beach
Meet the Mormons! We had to make teams to play The Game of Life. I was the polygamist
Tragedy strikes my Mormon family during the Game of Life
Pictionary got replaced by charades. Clearly it's a Totem Pole!
Standing by the Thunderous falls between Ryan and Kate
Swimming by the Typhoon gorged falls
