KAWAGOE, Saitama -- Flowers are woven into the hair of Marie Ogawa, 33, a professional figure skater from Tokyo, at Saimyoji temple, which has become the unlikely setting for a photo shoot in Kawagoe.
For a fee, visitors can don lavish kimono and become living ikebana models for the temple's hana-matoi event, held to provide a cause for celebration at a time when other festive occasions have been canceled by the pandemic. After being primped and preened by a team of hair and makeup stylists, kimono advisers and floral designers, participants take commemorative photos.
Ogawa, who was selected to kick off the event on late last week, said the photo shoot had helped lift her spirits, which had wilted after the cancellation of her scheduled skating performances last year.
"The flowers smelled so lovely; I feel rejuvenated," she said, her face blossoming into a smile.
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