The "Gozan Okuribi" bonfire, a religious rite to send off the spirits of ancestors who returned during the Obon holiday, was held in Kyoto City on the evening of August 16. Approximately 100,000 residents and tourists crowded along the Kamo River and other locations according to an announcement by the Kyoto Prefectural Police. The spectators gazed at the shimmering flames on the mountains and reflected on the departed.

At just past 8:00p.m., "Daimonji," or flames in the shape of the Chinese character "Dai," meaning large, was lit on Mount Nyoigatake in Sakyo Ward. The amount of "Matsu-wari-ki," or split pine wood used for the fire, was reduced by 20 percent to prevent flying sparks as withered Japanese oak trees are noticeable this year. Nonetheless, a finely balanced fire blazed as usual.

Next, the characters of "Myo" and "Ho" on mountains in Matsugasaki, Kyoto City, followed by "Hidari-Daimonji," "Funagata" and "Toriigata" were set ablaze in turn, lighting up the night sky.

The banks of the Kamo River were packed with families and middle-aged and older adults. They bid farewell to the quickly passing summer by putting their hands together or taking pictures as the Okuribi bonfire emerged from the dark.