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The Matsuri
Horse
Chagu Chagu Umako - Horse Festival
12th of June
Celebrating the planting of rice the parade is consisting of a 12-kilometres walk between 2 shrines, ending at one of the most spectacular shrines in Japan.
Akita Kanto Festival
03-06 th of August
Start the video, to experience the rythm of Kanto Festival!
The kanto is a bamboo pole, which is eight meters high with a number of cross poles, that holds altogether 46 paper lanterns shaped like rice bales and is decorated at the very top with thin shreds of paper between wooden sticks. The purpose of carrying around the kanto poles, is to drive away evil spirits through prayers offered to Shinto and Buddhist deities. The kantos differ by their size, the biggest one weighing 60 kg is called o-waka, the smaller versions are called chu-waka, ko-waka and yo-waka.
A number of young men are carrying around the kantos dressed in short jackets, hachimaki headbands, white tabi socks and zori straw sandals. They take turns in hoisting up the kanto one at a time to the sound of flutes and drums.The crowd is parading through the town while ensuring that the lights of the paper lanterns do not go out. Hands are not used to support the kanto. The men prop the poles upright on their hips, shoulders or foreheads and change their postures while shouting stoically as they try to outdo each other. The origins of this festival lie in the serene Tanabata ritual
Tanabata Festival
06th-08th of August 2010
Tanabata festival is the celebration of the night of Seventh. The tradition originates from the Chinese mythology, in which 2 stars (The Altair and the Vega) are symbolising 2 lovers that were separated by the river of the Milky Way. Once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the 2 lovers can be together again for a brief moment.
The celebration is held at night, once the stars come out.
The original Tanabata date was based on the Japanese lunisolar calendar, which is about a month behind the Gregorian calendar. As a result, some festivals are held on July 7, some are held on a few days around August 7.
The most well-known Tanabata Festival is held in Sendai.
Find out how to travel to Sendai and experience the Tanabata by contacting our offices.
In 2008 the Hokkaido summit of the G8 was held while they celebrated Tanabata in Hokkaido. The leaders of G8 has expressed their wish and their hope for future.
Awa Odori (Obon dance)
Chagu Chagu Umako - Horse Festival
12th of June
Celebrating the planting of rice the parade is consisting of a 12-kilometres walk between 2 shrines, ending at one of the most spectacular shrines in Japan.
Akita Kanto Festival
03-06 th of August
Start the video, to experience the rythm of Kanto Festival!
The kanto is a bamboo pole, which is eight meters high with a number of cross poles, that holds altogether 46 paper lanterns shaped like rice bales and is decorated at the very top with thin shreds of paper between wooden sticks. The purpose of carrying around the kanto poles, is to drive away evil spirits through prayers offered to Shinto and Buddhist deities. The kantos differ by their size, the biggest one weighing 60 kg is called o-waka, the smaller versions are called chu-waka, ko-waka and yo-waka.
A number of young men are carrying around the kantos dressed in short jackets, hachimaki headbands, white tabi socks and zori straw sandals. They take turns in hoisting up the kanto one at a time to the sound of flutes and drums.The crowd is parading through the town while ensuring that the lights of the paper lanterns do not go out. Hands are not used to support the kanto. The men prop the poles upright on their hips, shoulders or foreheads and change their postures while shouting stoically as they try to outdo each other. The origins of this festival lie in the serene Tanabata ritual
Tanabata Festival
06th-08th of August 2010
Tanabata festival is the celebration of the night of Seventh. The tradition originates from the Chinese mythology, in which 2 stars (The Altair and the Vega) are symbolising 2 lovers that were separated by the river of the Milky Way. Once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the 2 lovers can be together again for a brief moment.
The celebration is held at night, once the stars come out.
The original Tanabata date was based on the Japanese lunisolar calendar, which is about a month behind the Gregorian calendar. As a result, some festivals are held on July 7, some are held on a few days around August 7.
The most well-known Tanabata Festival is held in Sendai.
Find out how to travel to Sendai and experience the Tanabata by contacting our offices.
In 2008 the Hokkaido summit of the G8 was held while they celebrated Tanabata in Hokkaido. The leaders of G8 has expressed their wish and their hope for future.
Awa Odori (Obon dance)
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