Echizen Washi

Right after the New Year's Day started at midnight, local people in Echizen Washi Village began to climb up the mountain in the backyard of the Okamoto Otaki Shrine to pray for the god and the paper goddess.

Mr. Yamada, the president of Washi Association, who has been to trekking in Himalaya last year, was on the way to the top to bring back its sacred water which was going to be used for papermaking on the first day of 2012, Jan 5th.

I was with him and his grandson in blue jaket. The man next to him ( picture 1st ) wore a formal suit and was carrying sake in his arm.... I found this after looking back this picture recently !