Japanese summer festivals are a beautiful and recognizable Japanese tradition. These unique events attract crowds of visitors and impress not only with their rituals and demonstrations of traditional arts but also with their entertainment. People come here to relax, watch fireworks, enjoy festival food, and even go on dates. Numerous natsu matsuri are held during the summer season throughout Japan, such as the famous Tenshin Festival in Osaka and the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival in Tokyo. In our article, you will learn about the history of these festivals, their features, and traditions.
History of Japanese Festivals
Japanese summer festivals are a beautiful and recognizable Japanese tradition. These unique events attract crowds of visitors and impress not only with their rituals and demonstrations of traditional arts but also with their entertainment. People come here to relax, watch fireworks, enjoy festival food, and even go on dates. Numerous natsu matsuri are held during the summer season throughout Japan, such as the famous Tenshin Festival in Osaka and the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival in Tokyo. In our article, you will learn about the history of these festivals, their features, and traditions.
At the roots of modern Japanese festivals lies the tradition of venerating gods, which was established in ancient times. Initially, festivals were held as religious events during different seasons, to appease the deities. That is why today each festival is tied to a specific temple and has its own patron deity, such as Susanoo-no-Mikoto at the Gion Festival in Kyoto. The word matsuri (祭り), meaning festival, comes from the word matsuru (祀?/strong>) which means "to deify, to worship".
Summer festivals, or natsu matsuri (夏祭?/strong>) are held throughout the summer season from June to the end of August. In ancient times, during such events, Japanese people prayed to the gods for good harvests or catches, protection from natural disasters, and illnesses. By the Edo period (1603;1868), natsu matsuri had become similar to modern celebrations the religious basis of the festivals remained, but in addition to that, they began to gather large crowds of people who came to entertain themselves, relax, and socialize.
Each summer festival has its own features Sumidagawa in Tokyo is dedicated to fireworks, Otaue in Osaka rice planting, and Gion in Kyoto protection from diseases and traditional Japanese arts. Each of the festivals is a unique cultural and entertainment event that attracts both locals and tourists from different parts of Japan and around the world.
Tenshin Festival in Osaka
History of the Festival
Tenshin Festival in Osaka, or Tenshin matsuri (天神?/strong>) one of the largest and oldest Japanese natsu matsuri, which, along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and Kanda in Tokyo, is part of the big three festivals of Japan. It is over a thousand years old it is believed to have originated with the construction of the Temmangu Shrine in Osaka in 951.
Tenshin (天神) is the god of the sky, kami of science and scholarship, who is revered at the Temmangu Shrine. In his honor, this summer festival received its name. During Tenshin's lifetime, he was known as Sugawara-no-Mitidazane a famous poet, politician, and scholar of the Heian period (794-1185). He was a minister at the imperial court in Kyoto, and the aristocrats, fearing for their power, exiled him. After Mitidazane's death, misfortunes befell Kyoto and the imperial family, so it was decided to deify him to appease his vengeful spirit thus kami Tenshin was born. During the festival in his honor, the shrine of the deity is carried through the streets of Osaka, numerous various celebrations are held for his entertainment, and then it is returned to the shrine.
What to See at Tenshin Matsuri
Traditionally Tenshin Matsuri is held over two days from July 24 to 25. The first day of the festival is called Yomiya (夜宮), which literally translates to "night at the shrine" and signifies the eve of the festival. The second day is called Honmiya (本宮) and means "main shrine" this is the main day of the festival, during which the main parades are held and fireworks are launched. The Tenshin festival has a very busy program:
Gyaru Mikoshi Junko (ギャル神輿巡?
A parade held a day before the festival begins. It is notable because only girls participate in it they carry portable shrines mikoshi along the Tenshinbashi-suji shopping street. These shrines weigh 200 kilograms, making it a challenging task but together the girls handle it cheerfully in honor of Tenshin-sama.
Itibandaiko (一番太?
At 4 AM on July 24, the Temmangu Shrine opens its gates, and the first drumbeat itibandaiko marks the opening of the festival.
Hokonagashi Shindzi (鉾流神事)
A ritual that marks the beginning of the Tenshin festival. For this, boys from elementary school are selected to play the role of divine children, who are then sailed on a white wooden boat hoko down the Dodjima River after the purification ceremony.
Moyooshidayiko (催太?
A cheerful parade during which men on portable platforms beat drums taiko while chanting festival slogans.
Suijo Takigi no (水上薪能)
A Performance of traditional Japanese Noh, where actors perform in masks. At the Tenshin festival, the performance is held on a boat anchored by the shore, and the name of this act translates to "Noh theater performed on the water at night by a bonfire".
Dondokobune (どんどこ?
BOat procession dondoko along the Dotonbori River in Osaka, held in the evening of Yomiya. Participants in festival attire beat drums, ring bells, and chant traditional shouts.
Rikutogyo (陸渡?
The main day of Tenshin Matsuri begins with the Honmiya festival at the Temmangu Shrine. During this ceremony, prayers are offered for the well-being of the city of Osaka, and people begin to gather at the shrine to participate in the land procession called Rikutogyo. From the shrine, a richly decorated shrine mikoshi, housing the spirit of Sugawara-no-Mitidazane, is carried through the streets of the city.
Leading the procession are a boy and a girl who guide the sacred bull, the messenger of Mitidazane. In total, more than 3,000 people participate in the procession: drummers, dancers, and costumed characters from Japanese folklore.
Funatogyo (船渡?
BOat procession or Funatogyo, is one of the main and most memorable events of the Tenshin Festival. Participants in the land procession board boats and take with them mikoshi with the spirit of Mitidazane. After that, a spectacular parade of more than 100 boats begins on the Okawa River, slowly sailing downstream.
Japanese Summer Fireworks
When the boats reach the end of their route and darkness falls, the sky is illuminated by Bright fireworks more than 4,000 bursts. They are launched from Sakura Park and Kawasaki, with a special highlight being the fireworks shaped like plum blossoms, symbolizing Mitidazane. In these moments, Tenshin Matsuri literally drowns in bright flashes over the river surface, earning it a second name Festival of Fire and Water. The celebration concludes with the Kango-sai ceremony when the mikoshi of Mitidazane are ceremoniously returned to the Temmangu Shrine.
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Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival in Tokyo
History of the Festival
The Sumidagawa Fireworks festival is held annually on the last Saturday of July on the banks of the Sumidagawa River in Tokyo's Asakusa district in 2024, it falls on July 27. In Japanese, the event is called Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai (隅田川花火大?/strong>) and translates to "Sumidagawa River Fireworks Competition". It is named so for a reason summer fireworks in Japan have a long and fascinating history.
The first known fireworks festival in Japan took place as early as 1733. Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune held it to celebrate the end of the great Kyoho famine the year before. In those difficult times, fireworks festivals were also meant to distract people from harsh realities, honor the memory of the deceased, and entertain the distressed population.
Interesting fact! When summer fireworks became an established tradition in Japan, various groups of pyrotechnicians began to compete with each other for the best performance at the festival. The Sumidagawa Fireworks Competition originated in the 1810s guilds called Tamaya (玉屋) and Kagiya (鍵屋), became the main rivals. During the natsu matsuri, when they launched fireworks, spectators would shout the name of the guild that impressed them the most. That is why Japanese people still shout "Tamaya" or "Kagiya" when watching fireworks you've probably often seen such scenes in Japanese movies and anime.
The tradition of fireworks competition continues today with as many as 10 pyrotechnic companies participating, of which 7 are local and 3 are national. The competition is held during the first burst near the Sakura Bridge 200 of the best fireworks from different companies are launched, after which spectators evaluate them and choose the best participant.
Japanese Summer Fireworks
Fireworks are launched for one and a half hours straight from 7 PM to 8:30 PM, and over 20,000 fiery flowers bloom in the evening sky that's how the word fireworks (花火, hanabi) is literally written in Japanese. It's better to arrive early and secure the best spots to watch them, although there is an option to buy paid spots both by the river and at the top of the Tokyo Skytree tower. Additionally, you can watch fireworks from a sightseeing boat yakatabune on the river, but it won't be cheap such a festival mini-cruise all-inclusive would cost around 66,000 yen.
Did you know? The Sumidagawa Summer Festival is visited by over a million people annually. Therefore, it's really easy to get lost in such a crowd a popular clich in many anime. So if you're going to the natsu matsuri with someone, it's best to not stray too far from each other.
Fireworks are launched from two locations Sakura Bridge and Komagata Bridge on the Sumidagawa River. The variety of pyrotechnics used is astounding you can see both multiple bursts and warimono (割り?/strong>) large round fireworks. Additionally, shikake hanabi (仕掛け花?/strong>) in the form of images or logos stand out. You can also see fireworks in the shape of animals, fish, and even characters from anime!
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What to Do at Japanese Summer Festivals
Japanese summer festivals they are not only parades, ceremonies, and fireworks. Take a traditional natsu matsuri Fan (団扇), to cope with the summer heat, and embark on a multitude of other equally exciting activities!
Play Games
At kiosks during summer festivals, you can not only buy food but also play various games. These are traditional Japanese festival games for children, but adults can play them too:
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Yo-yo Ball Fishing (ヨーヨー釣り, you you tsuri) in this game, you need to catch Water yo-yo balls, which float in a small pool. You can retrieve them using a paper string with a hook at the end, catching them by the loop then you can keep the ball as a prize;
Smart Ball (スマートボー?/strong>) a game where you need to roll balls into holes on a special Game machine in the style of pinball;
Find a Pair (神経衰弱, shinkei suijaku) a concentration game where you need to pull ropes with balls at the end to flip cards and find matching pairs. In Japanese, it's called "Nervous Breakdown";
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Goldfish Scooping (金魚すく?/strong>, kingyo sukui) a game where you need to use a small Paper scoop called poi to catch real goldfish from a small pool. The scoop quickly gets wet and tears, so you need to do it quickly and if successful, you can take the fish with you;
Super Ball (スーパーボー? suupaa bouru) the same game as the previous one, but instead of fish, you need to catch Colorful balls;
Eat Festival Food
Street food as integral an attribute of Japanese summer festivals as fireworks. You probably know the most popular festival dishes: takoyaki, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and yakitori. If not, check out our article on summer festivals in honor of Tanabata to learn more.
However, the food natsu matsuri is much more diverse and not limited to just the most famous dishes here are some other things you can enjoy at Japanese kiosks yatai:
Kakigori (かき?
Another traditional summer treat kakigori, or shaved ice with various syrups. Simple yet incredibly refreshing dish especially in the summer heat. To make it at home, you can Order machines for making shaved ice and syrups for kakigori from Japan.
Choco Banana (チョコバナナ)
Banana dipped in chocolate on a stick a beautiful and tasty treat. They come in various colors and with different types of chocolate glaze and toppings and thanks to the stick, they are easy to eat.
Ringo Ame (りんご飴)
Ringo Ame a whole apple on a stick in caramel glaze, which, with its bright red color, beckons you to taste it.
Wata Ame (綿飴)
Wata Ame sweet cotton candy on a stick, similar to what we know from childhood. And in Japanese, it is called the same as in Russian the word "wata" is one of the few words that coincide in both languages.
Ikiyaki (イカ焼き)
Ikiyaki grilled squid in sauce, which is then served on a stick. If you love seafood, it's definitely worth trying.
Hiyashi Kyuri (冷やし胡?
This dish is nothing more than cucumber on a stick chilled with the help of ice. Thanks to a special marinade, it is incredibly tasty, fresh, and crunchy.
Baby Castella (ベビーカステ?
If you're a sweet tooth, be sure to try Japanese Castella cake. At the festivals, it is served in various small shapes for example, ball shapes like takoyaki or bell shapes.
Ramune (ラム?
Ramune a Japanese lemonade, traditionally sold in bottles with narrow necks. What makes the drink special is a small glass marble instead of a cap, which you need to push inside to open the bottle! If you want to try this carbonated drink but are far from Japan no problem. With , you can Order ramune in a tin can or in the form of candies, so it doesn't get damaged during shipping.
Japanese summer festivals - natsu matsuri are a unique mix of ancient customs, Japanese art, fireworks, and delicious food. Embrace Japanese traditions and let's explore them together!
Buy Festival Masks
Another interesting tradition selling at summer festivals Masks, which are called omn (お面). It is believed that this tradition originated back in the Edo period, when after theatrical performances, people continued to wear masks at summer festivals. In addition to traditional masks, you can also find masks of characters from popular Disney cartoons and anime characters. Today, they are worn for entertainment or as accessories, for example like Tsukihi Araragi from Bakemonogatari or Vakama Kosaka from Blue Archive.
Dance
Japanese natsu matsuri can't be imagined without lively traditional dances. The most important of them is, of course, bon odori (盆踊?/strong>), which is usually performed in August during festivals dedicated to the memorial Obon holiday. It is believed that the dance helps guide the spirits of the deceased to the afterlife. Typically, a tall wooden platform yagura (? is set up at the festival site, on which dancers perform bon odori and beat drums taiko. Anyone can gather around yagura and dance together. This is a group dance that you can participate in even if you don't know how to dance.
Another well-known dance is called yosakoi (よさこい). It has its own summer festival in the city of Kōchi, held in August. Yosakoi combines traditional Japanese dances with modern music, and dancers wear yukata> and happi (festival coats with wide sleeves). This dance is very cheerful and energetic, and a traditional element of it is the use of wooden rattles called naruko.
Summer Festivals in Anime
Natsu matsuri a very popular theme in anime, appear in many different titles. Here are a few examples:
Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?
This anime film by the renowned director Shinbo Akiyuki from Studio Shaft a remake of the eponymous Japanese 1993 film "How Do You Watch Fireworks, From Below or From the Side?". It tells a romantic story unfolding during a summer festival in a Japanese town. The title song from this anime by Daoko and Kenshi Yonezu became very popular the YouTube clip alone has garnered over 600 million views.
Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru
This episode dedicated to natsu matsuri is also found in the popular romantic anime-comedy "This Porcelain Doll Fell in Love". In it, the main characters Gojo Wakana and Marin Kitagawa go on a date to a summer festival together, wander among kiosks yatai, buy ringo ame and choco banana and of course watch fireworks.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (2009)
Haruhi, Kyon, and their friends attend a summer festival in the legendary "Endless Eight" from the second season of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". These are 8 identical episodes dedicated to a time loop, differing only in minor details for example, in different episodes, the heroines wear yukata of different colors. If you also want to Choose a yukata for yourself from Japan, let's do it together with !
Japanese summer festivals natsu matsuri are a unique mix of ancient customs, Japanese art, fireworks, and delicious food. Embrace Japanese traditions and let's explore them together!
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