Priests prepare to leave the shrine for Yuigahama beach to take part in the hamaorisai ritual during the annual Reitaisai Grand Festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, Japan on 14 September 2012. September 14 marks the first day of the 3-day Reitaisai festival, which begins early in the morning when shrine priests and officials perform a purification ritual in the ocean during a rite known as hamaorisai and limaxes
Priests prepare to leave the shrine for Yuigahama beach to take part in  the hamaorisai ritual during the annual Reitaisai Grand Festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, Japan on  14 Sept. 2012.  Sept 14 marks the first day of the 3-day Reitaisai festival, which starts early in the morning when shrine priests and officials perform a purification ritual in the ocean during a rite known as hamaorisai and limaxes with a display of yabusame horseback archery. Photographer: Robert Gilhooly