Sayo Tomita has been chosen as the 62nd "Saio-dai," or heroine of the Aoi Festival held on May 15, one of Kyoto's three main festivals. Tomita is from Sakyo Ward, Kyoto and is a sophomore at Doshisha University. The selection was announced on April 11 by the "Aoi-Matsuri Gyoretsu Hozonkai," or Aoi Festival procession conservation group.

Tomita is the third daughter of Sonoko and Kenichiro Tomita, executive managing director of "Fuji Kogyo," a real estate and leasing company headquartered in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto. She is a skilled tap dancer and was a pitcher for the softball club at Doshisha Girls' Junior and Senior High School. Presently, she is studying at the Doshisha University Faculty of Policy Studies. Her hobbies are watching movies and photography.

During the press conference at a hotel in Kamigyo Ward, Tomita said, "As my junior and senior high school is located near the Kyoto Imperial Palace, I watched the Aoi Festival Procession every year. The Saio-dai is admired by women in Kyoto. I will never forget this feeling of gratitude to be able to serve in this role." As her two older sisters have also decided to join the women's procession, she smilingly said, "I am looking forward to all three of us being able to participate in the Aoi Festival."

The Saio-dai is based on Saio, an imperial princess who served both the Kamigamo and Shimogamo shrines. The role was revived in 1956.