Nebuta Festival – Aomori, Japan
The Aomori Nebuta Festival, also known as Aomori Nebuta, is a summer festival which takes place in Aomori City, in the Aomori prefecture of Japan. It occurs annually for five days, spanning from August 2nd to August 7th. The Aomori Nebuta is one of Japan’s most famous and beloved festivals. It features colorful, illuminated yatai floats and cars. The floats, which depict folkloric scenes of kabuki and Japanese myths, are paraded throughout the city. Musicians and dancers are featured alongside the floats. Additionally, children’s floats are displayed during the first two days of the festival. Provided that they are properly costumed, members of the public are welcome to join in the parade. On the final day, an elaborate display of fireworks occurs in the night.
The history of the festival is quite ambiguous and, to this day, remains largely unknown; there are many stories which attempt to explain the origins of the festival. Although specifics of the stories vary, almost all of them hinge upon the belief that the nebuta floats are directly tied to ancient battles and strategies used by military generals. It is widely believed that the festival also derives from certain Shinto ceremonies – for example, the Tanabata.
