The Waka poem composition event, "Kamo Kyokusui no En" was held on Sunday in the Shokeien Garden of the Kamigamo Shrine. Hundreds of spectators gathered to see the elegant event, which is known to bear a close resemblance to the imperial court during the Heian period.

  The event proceeds according to a set of rules. Participating poets dressed in costumes from the Heian period sit by a garden stream and compose 31-syllable-poems. The rule of the event requires the poets to read out the poems before a red sake cup reaches them down the stream.

  The theme of this year's poems, fresh green grass, was announced by Ayako Kurakazu, who served as the heroine of the last year's Aoi Festival, one of the most renowned festivals in Japan. Seven poets dressed in full court costumes composed impromptu poems by the stream.

  The event has its roots set in the "Misogi" purification ritual of ancient China. The Shrine started holding it in the Heian period. It was brought back to life in 1994 when the shrine held the event after a long interval in commemoration of the 1,200th anniversary of the capital's relocation to Kyoto, or foundation of the Heian capital.