Matsuri Mania
Your guide to summer festivals
Sumiyoshi Matsuri
©Sumiyoshi Taisha
The summer festivities at Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine attract over 300,000 visitors. On July 30 spectators can watch the Senreisai ceremony in which resident kami (deities) are transferred from the main sanctuary to a portable shrine. Festival-goers can also take part in the Nagoshi no Harai purification rite on the 31st. Also well worth a look: the mikoshi parade over Sorihashi bridge (and into the river!) on August 1.
July 30 to August 1
Sumiyoshi Taisha, 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/calender/natu.html
Hayachine Shrine Festival (UN)
©Junji Obara, Hanamaki Tourism & Convention Bureau
Hayachine kagura, a ritual dance said to originate with mountain ascetics, is a hallowed tradition in the city of Hanamaki. Retaining elements that predate noh, it enjoys UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. Hayachine Shrine’s annual festival is a superb opportunity to see kagura, performed at 6 PM on July 31 and 1:30 PM on August 1.
July 31 and August 1
Hayachine Shrine,
1-1 Ohasama-machi Uchikawame, Hanamaki, Iwate
www.kanko-hanamaki.ne.jp/en/cultural
Morioka Sansa Odori
©Morioka Sansa Odori Festival Organizing Committee
Over 13,000 participants play taiko drums and dance every night of this festival, which gets its name from the chant “Sansa, sansa” celebrating victory over a fearsome devil. After the parade, spectators are invited to join the Waodori circle dance. Festivities peak on August 4 with the recordholding world’s biggest taiko parade and a huge dance circle, the Dai-wa-odori. Festival hours: 6 to 9 PM nightly.
August 1 to 4
Kencho-mae Chuo-dori, Morioka, Iwate
www.sansaodori.jp
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
©Nagaoka Festival Organizing Council
This grand fireworks display takes place on the banks of the Shinano River, a perfect setting for launching behemoths like the shosanshakudama, which explodes into a light show 650 meters wide. The event began to commemorate a World War II air raid on the city. Three white fireworks sent up on August 1 at 10:30 PM mark the anniversary; the main displays are on August 2 and 3 from 7:20 to 9:10 PM.
August 1 to 3
Shinano River bank, Nagaoka, Niigata
nagaokamatsuri.com
NOTE:
Dates listed are for 2017 only. Please also note that festival schedules may change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Be sure to check relevant websites in advance.
(UN)= UNESCO World Heritage or Intangible Cultural Heritage
Source " KATEIGAHO INTERNATIONAL Japan EDITION Spring / Summer 2017 vol.39 "
Illustrations by Hiroshi Fukui
Text by Chikako Shimizu and Rieko Numachi
Special thanks to Tetsuya Yamamoto
Translated by Pamela Miki and Julie Kuma
Copy editing by Alan Gleason
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