Wood41
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Anyone going in August 2015 ?
Aomori Nebuta Festival
Aomori-ken has 2 famous festival, one is Nebuta in Aomori town, the other is Neputa in Hirosaki (samurai capital of Aomori). Both festivals of Aomori and Hirosaki feature a parade of huge lanterns in the shape of samurai warriors/hearts/spirits. The lanterns are made with wooden or bamboo frames and covered with bright color painted in traditional methods. Most of the Hariko is historically well-known general/bushi/knight or are characters from well-received Kabuki players. The illumination lights up the night and the air shakes with the energy from the music and shouts of the dancers called Haneto.
Akita Kantoh Festival
A kantoh is a bamboo pole eight to ten meters high with a number of cross poles attached which have 46 - 60 paper lanterns hanging from them, and is decorated at the very top with thin shreds of paper between wooden sticks. They act to drive away evil spirits through prayers offered to Shinto and Buddhist deities. Kantoh weight about 60 kg or even more are called o-waka, and smaller versions are called chu-waka, ko-waka and yo-waka. All these kanto are so-called in the shape of Akita cedar tree or of the full grown rice plants.
Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
This festival is listed in the Guiness Book of Records for the largest Taiko Drum Festival in the world. 50cm in diameter and weight of 6 - 7 kg is just a small mini one. Up tempo music and drum beat vibrate your soul and spirit for sure. You may encounter those attractive 10,000 taiko drummers and 30,000 dancers dressed on colorful Yukata on the main streets of Morioka. Dress yourself up in Kimono and enjoy the hot night!
Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
Flower-Hat is direct translation of Hana-Gasa. Groups of dancers in colorful costumes are holding the hat, 10,000 people are participating in the dance, the parade is led by wonderful decorated festival boats, audience also shouts "Yassho, Makasho" with joyful beat of drum, Hanagasa-daiko. Feel it?
Sendai Tanabata Festival
Tanabata is not only held in Sendai but all over Japan (Hiratsuka next to Kamakura is one of the biggest in Tokyo area). Among all, surely Sendai is the biggest and well received by nations. This is definitely one of the major events of summer in Japan. Tthe Sendai Tanabata Festival is symbolized by elaborate decorations attached to bamboo poles. More than 1000 streamers line up the arcade, shopping street which starts right in front of JR Sendai Station. Please do not window-shopping but do check-out the bamboo pole ornaments. After sunset, the "Hoshi No Koyoi Matsuri or Star Festival" holds live stage perfomances along with fabulous fireworks.
Aomori Nebuta Festival
Aomori-ken has 2 famous festival, one is Nebuta in Aomori town, the other is Neputa in Hirosaki (samurai capital of Aomori). Both festivals of Aomori and Hirosaki feature a parade of huge lanterns in the shape of samurai warriors/hearts/spirits. The lanterns are made with wooden or bamboo frames and covered with bright color painted in traditional methods. Most of the Hariko is historically well-known general/bushi/knight or are characters from well-received Kabuki players. The illumination lights up the night and the air shakes with the energy from the music and shouts of the dancers called Haneto.
Akita Kantoh Festival
A kantoh is a bamboo pole eight to ten meters high with a number of cross poles attached which have 46 - 60 paper lanterns hanging from them, and is decorated at the very top with thin shreds of paper between wooden sticks. They act to drive away evil spirits through prayers offered to Shinto and Buddhist deities. Kantoh weight about 60 kg or even more are called o-waka, and smaller versions are called chu-waka, ko-waka and yo-waka. All these kanto are so-called in the shape of Akita cedar tree or of the full grown rice plants.
Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
This festival is listed in the Guiness Book of Records for the largest Taiko Drum Festival in the world. 50cm in diameter and weight of 6 - 7 kg is just a small mini one. Up tempo music and drum beat vibrate your soul and spirit for sure. You may encounter those attractive 10,000 taiko drummers and 30,000 dancers dressed on colorful Yukata on the main streets of Morioka. Dress yourself up in Kimono and enjoy the hot night!
Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
Flower-Hat is direct translation of Hana-Gasa. Groups of dancers in colorful costumes are holding the hat, 10,000 people are participating in the dance, the parade is led by wonderful decorated festival boats, audience also shouts "Yassho, Makasho" with joyful beat of drum, Hanagasa-daiko. Feel it?
Sendai Tanabata Festival
Tanabata is not only held in Sendai but all over Japan (Hiratsuka next to Kamakura is one of the biggest in Tokyo area). Among all, surely Sendai is the biggest and well received by nations. This is definitely one of the major events of summer in Japan. Tthe Sendai Tanabata Festival is symbolized by elaborate decorations attached to bamboo poles. More than 1000 streamers line up the arcade, shopping street which starts right in front of JR Sendai Station. Please do not window-shopping but do check-out the bamboo pole ornaments. After sunset, the "Hoshi No Koyoi Matsuri or Star Festival" holds live stage perfomances along with fabulous fireworks.
