| TOHOKU BIG 6 FESTIVAL |
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| Asakusa has Sanja Matsuri in May which is
the most hottest festival in Japan. How about
Tohoku (East-North region)? Days and months
have passed from the March 11th (catastrophe
of earthquake and tsunami), time could ease
the pain, but still scars of disasters can
be seen here and there in the northern-eastern-area,
Tohoku region. Their spirits of livings and
deaths (both good) will be contributed to
Tohoku prefecture's festivals this summer.
Aomori has Nebuta (Neputa), Akita has Kantoh,
Morioka (Iwate) has Sansa, Yamagata has Hanagasa,
Sendai (Miyagi) has Tanabata, and Fukushima
has Waraji to present. 6 prefectures (states)
6 festivals. Spirit is pronounced as Kon
in Japanese language, Six as Roku. Together,
it becomes Rokkon (sounds like Rock-On),
the 6 spirits festivals. Not only their 6
areas people, but whole nation of Japan received
hambly your international aids, donations,
helps, supports, hearts and more. Arigatou
gozaimasu. This summer festival is to thank
all of you giving Japan warm thoughts. First
time ever they hold 6 local festivals in
1 place (Sendai, the capital of Tohoku).
Thank you so much once again. |
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| Tohoku Rokkon Matsuri (Rock On Spirits Festival,
Six Spirits of Prefecture Festival) |
Place : Sendai
Dates : July 16th Sat. 10:00 - 19:00 and
July 17th Sun. 10:00 - 17:00 (only in 2011?)
Free of charge, Everyone welcome, Weather
no permits (rain does not cancel) |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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! |
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| 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? |
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| 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. |
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| Fukushima Waraji Festival |
| The most catastrophe area by the nuclear
power plants, Fukushima, has this Straw Sandal
Festival. The giant shoes with 12 meters
long and 3000kg weight will be carried around
the town. How aggressive is depending on
each group belongs to each street. Let's
find who's the hottest. Shinobuyama once
planned to taken away at the time of Shinkansen
construction, but remained as nature with
tunnel got through, remained Fukushima one
of the hottest town in Tohoku region. 3000
dancers also follows with the traditional
tune of folk song, Yoransho Koransho Mawaransho.
Good at carring huge straw sandal? Why not
participate in a race involving teams
speed-shouldering 2.5m long Waraji over
a 300m run. |
