"Saio-dai," or the heroine of the Aoi Festival, which takes place on May 15 as the first of Kyoto's three major festivals, was announced on April 12 at Hotel Heian Kaikan in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto. Maya Kawasaki, a sophomore at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine who is from Higashiyama Ward, was selected as the 55th Saio-dai. Maya is the first person born in the Heisei Period to play the leading female role in the festival.

Twenty-year-old Maya is the eldest daughter of Junsei Kawasaki, chief priest of Rokuharamitsuji Temple, and his wife Tomoko, who served as the 30th Saio-dai. Maya belongs to the Japanese archery club at the university, and likes playing the piano and camping.

This day, dressed in a black long-sleeved kimono with fancy cherry blossom patterns on it, Maya attended the press conference and said, "I feel a little bit uneasy about playing a big role in the festival, but it is a great honor for me to be selected. I have had the experience of carrying 20 to 30 kilogram baggage while walking in the Boy Scouts. I have heard the 'Junihitoe,' traditional, multi-layered ceremonial costume, is very heavy, so I would like to keep myself in good condition until the festival."

Maya's father said, "I think the Aoi Festival is a very precious rite to pray for plentiful grain and people's happiness. My daughter is an athlete, and has enough stamina. I hope she will satisfactorily fulfill her responsibility to the end."

According to "Aoi-Matsuri Gyoretsu Hozonkai," or Aoi Festival Procession Conservation Group, this is the third time a mother and her daughter have both been selected as Saio-dai. Keiko Mizuno, Maya's aunt, also served as the 46th heroine, and this is the first time in history where a mother, a daughter and her aunt have played the same role. Kanekatsu Inokuma, chairman of the conservation group, said with delight, "She seems to be deeply connected with the Aoi Festival."