*Baikamo* in bloom and the lantern-floating ceremony
I visited the Jizo River in Samegai, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan several times this year to see the *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot) in bloom, but the highlight is the "Manto-nagashi" (floating lantern ceremony) that serves as the finale of the Samegai Jizo Festival, starting at 8:00 PM on August 24th. Lanterns drift down the *Baikamo*-growing river, creating a truly spectacular sight as their lights reflect on the water's surface. On this day, there were plenty of food stalls set up, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively. There were quite a few young ladies dressed in *yukata*. A yukata is a flashy, single-layered kimono, usually worn in summer. First of all, I would like to introduce *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot). These are *Baikamo* flowers in bloom at Jizo-river. *Baikamo* only grows in rivers with cold, clean, flowing water. The Jizo-river filled with colonies of*Baikamo*. For reference, *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot) do...
