Festival Faces Smeared in White for Safety and Bountiful Harvest Despite Disastrous Year

Video footage taken on Dec. 2 in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, shows elders and young families alike getting their faces smeared with a white mush made from newly harvested rice at the annual Oshiroi Matsuri (face powder festival) held at local Oyamazumi-jinja shrine. The rite held to ensure safety and a bountiful harvest went on despite heavy rains severely damaged the area earlier this year. The video footage was taken by Shinjiro Sadamatsu of The Asahi Shimbun.