The Ryori Daigongen, a giant incarnation of the Ryori deity, welcomes the arrival of the 26,594-ton cruise ship Pacific Venus at Ofunato Port in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, on Tuesday. The lion-shaped Ryori Daigongen, which is about seven meters high, was created in 1996 as a symbol of the Ryori district in the city. In the district, which is vulnerable to tsunami, 27 people died or disappeared in the Great East Japan Earthquake. As a tsunami is traditionally regarded as an "act of devils" in the district, the Dance of Ryori Daigongen is performed on New Year's holidays and at festivals to expel evil and wish for the safety of households.
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