Thousands of men and women raced through the grounds of a Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture early Tuesday in the annual "Lucky Man Run," which some believe bestows a year's worth of good fortune on the winner.
Harking back to a tradition started in the 14th century, when locals hurried to Nishinomiya Shrine on this day to offer prayers for prosperity, the race's victor is recognized by priests as the year's "lucky" man or woman.
Takashi Suzuki, 21, a university student from Tokyo, was the recipient of the promise of favorable fortune for 2017 when he won the 230-meter dash through the shrine's courtyard, boosted by gaining a position close to the giant red doors of the shrine compound in a lottery draw.