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epa04990699 YEARENDER 2015 FEATURE PACKAGES.(11/21) Japanese pilgrims walk from the summit of Mt. Gassan towards Yudono mountain, along the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage route in Yamagata prefecture, Japan, 08 August 2015. The pilgrimage area is a center for a 1,400 year old yamabushi, mountain asceticism tradition. The tradition went into decline in the late 19th century during Japan's move towards modernization. Recently a growing number of young people in Japan are participating in the four day pilgrimage that includes arduous mountain hikes, sleep deprivation, virtual fasting and cold-water ablutions in order to achieve spiritual and physical cleansing. EPA/EVERETT KENNEDY BROWN PLEASE REFER TO ADVISORY NOTICE (epa04887037) FOR FULL FEATURE TEXT