I need to start by saying this the BEST thing I have seen in my 19 years in Japan! Anyone who is in Japan in early August should put this at the very top of their bucket-list, as its a truly amazing experience!
The Akita Kanto is a Japanese festival celebrated from 3–7 August in Akita City, Akita Prefecture in hope for a good harvest. Around two hundred bamboo poles 5-12 metres long, bearing 24 or 46 lit lanterns, and weighing up to 50kg, are carried through the streets.
It is one of the main festivals in Tōhoku, along with the Tanabata festival in Sendai, the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri festival, and the Hanagasa Matsuri festival in Yamagata.
Although the main parade is at night, you can see the competitors practicing during the day, or attend the competition that is held to vote of the most technically-gifted team.
The competitors have four basic moves to do:
Rest the pole on their forehead…
On their shoulder…
On the palm of their hand…
And on their hip…
Its not always so easy, especially when the wind catches the pole…
But its not only adults that take part…
But the really amazing stuff is the night parade, when all the teams line up the length of the main boulevard…
Up go the lanterns…one…
two
and three! Let it begin!
To the thunderous drumbeat of dozens of taiko drums..
The competitors show off their skills…it is particularly amazing when the team members get together…
and make the lanterns dance together…needless to say, sometimes it goes horribly wrong and they come crashing down all in a tangle!
The kids have it no easier…they have to try and do their pole tricks while simultaneously fluttering a fan…
A truly, truly awesome experience!!!
myjapantravels 