Japan / Fukushima - Akihito Sato, 38, stands in the garden of his parents' house in Odaka-ku.

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The Fukushima samurais / Portraits - 2012 - Japan / Fukushima - Akihito Sato, 38, stands in the garden of his parents' house in Odaka-ku. All of his armor and horse gears for Soma Nomaoi are kept at his parents' house together with those of his brothers, Kazuhito and Kunihito, and his father Kunio. "My friends and family members are all connected through Soma Nomaoi. Soma Nomaoi often helps to smooth the connection at workplace too," says Akihito. His commitment to Soma Nomaoi comes from his desire to "do it in a cool way" which is to show your "Rectitude (?)" or Justice, "Courage (?)" and The spirit of Bearing (?)", "Benevolence (?)" and the Feeling of Distress, "Politeness (?)" , "sincerity (?)", "Honour (?)" , and "The Duty of Loyalty (?)", which from Bushido spirits, subtly to others. Akihito takes pride in the relationship with his Soma Nomaoi mates that he grew up together from very young age. "I was able to overcome the disaster because of Soma Nomaoi," says Sato. He started his own construction business long time before the disaster. Currently he is busy with nuclear plant related jobs such as scaffolding for decontamination work. He now lives by himself in a leased housing in Minamisoma city because of the work situation having his wife and two children evacuated to another city in Fukushima. - Noriko Takasugi / Le Pictorium

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Size: 3200px × 3200px
Location: Fukushima, Japan
Photo credit: © Noriko Takasugi / Le Pictorium / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1, 6x6, ancient, asia, ceremonial, colour, costume, disaster, earthquake, east, fukushima, garments, headband, honshu, identity, japan, japanese, man, nuclear, person, portrait, pride, restoration, sabre, samurai, sideboard, square, sword, traditional, tsunami, view, weapon