🎋 A Complete Introduction to the Illuminated Rice Ears: Kanto Festival (Akita City, Akita Prefecture)

Today, I'd like to introduce you to one of Tohoku's four major festivals and Japan's most distinctive summer traditional event: the Kanto Matsuri . 🌾✨ Every year in early August, Akita City transforms into a sea of ​​lights and crowds. Hundreds of "kanto" lanterns, symbolizing rice ears, sway in the streets. The twinkling lights resemble a sky full of stars and golden waves of rice, imbued with symbols of a good harvest and the warding off of evil spirits.

📜 The Origin and History of the Kanto Festival

The Kanto Festival dates back to the mid-Edo period. Originally a "sleeping drift" custom, paper lanterns and prayers were used to ward off summer illnesses and disasters. Later, it evolved into a festival closely integrated with agricultural culture, with bamboo poles and lanterns symbolizing rice ears used to pray for a good harvest and peace in the home.

In Akita, a region renowned for its rice, the Kanto Festival is not only a religious ritual but also a display of the farmers' spirit. In 1980, it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan , making it one of Japan's most representative traditional festivals.

I think the most fascinating thing about it is that "lanterns are not just lanterns, but a symbol of the people of Akita who condense their lives, beliefs, and hopes into light and shadow. 🌟

⏰ Time and location

• Time : August 3rd to 6th every year
• Location : Kanto-odori, central Akita City, Akita Prefecture (Main Venue)

There are different attractions during the day and at night: during the day you can see skill performances and exchange activities, while at night there are parades and performances with brilliant lights.

🎐 Characteristics and scale of Kanto

Kanto lanterns are the soul of the entire festival, and their appearance and design are very distinctive.

• Structure : Long bamboo poles connected by multiple layers of horizontal wood, with paper lanterns hung on them.
• Number of lanterns : A maximum of 46 lanterns can be hung on one pole.
• Weight and height : Large pole lanterns are up to 12 meters tall and weigh over 50 kilograms.
• Meaning of the shape : The overall shape is like a rice ear, and family crests or auspicious words are often written on the lanterns, praying for a good harvest and happiness.

When night falls, hundreds of lanterns light up at the same time, and the center of Akita is instantly transformed into a "rice field of light". The scene is so beautiful that it takes your breath away. 🌾🏮

🤹 Skills performance "Magic Skills"

The most impressive part of the Kanto Festival is the "magic skills" displayed by the performers.

• Performance method : The performer uses the forehead, shoulders, waist, palms and other parts of the body to balance the heavy lantern.
• Push your limits : As the show progresses, the pole lights get longer and longer, and the challenger must keep balancing without falling.
• Atmosphere at the scene : The audience shouted "どっこいしょ! どっこいしょ!" to cheer for the performers, and the atmosphere was electric.

I witnessed it once with my own eyes. When the lantern was about to fall but miraculously kept its balance, the whole audience burst into cheers. The tension was so intense that it gave me goosebumps! 🙌

🌙 Night Kanto Parade

• Time : Starting around 18:50
• Location : Kanto-Odori, downtown Akita
• Content : Hundreds of large and small kanto lanterns light up simultaneously, forming a spectacular procession that slowly moves to the sounds of drums and flutes.

The Kanto Festival at night is a feast for both the eyes and the ears – with flickering lights, melodious flutes, powerful drums, and the roar of cheers from the audience, the entire street is like a sea of ​​light. 💡🎶

☀️ Daytime Kanto Acrobatic Competition

In addition to the night, the "Skills Competition" during the day is equally exciting:

• The event will be held in a square or park in Akita City.
• Performers challenge themselves to balance on the pole lanterns in the sunlight, showcasing both individual and team skills.
• Visitors can watch it up close and even have the opportunity to experience the weight of the lanterns themselves.

I think the daytime version allows you to more clearly see the performers' sweat and concentration, fully demonstrating the "combination of strength and technique." 💪

🍢 Food and atmosphere around the festival

During the Kanto Festival, the streets of Akita are filled with vendors, and you can't miss the local specialties:

• Inaniwa Udon 🍜
• Hinai chicken dishes 🍗
• Roasted rice stick pot (きりたんぽ pot) 🍢
• Akita local sake🍶

The most authentic way to enjoy the festival is to enjoy local delicacies while watching the festival. I especially recommend pairing a cold local sake with a toasted rice stick. Enjoying it while watching the lanterns is incredibly delicious!

🗺️ Transportation and sightseeing suggestions

• transportation :
  • From Tokyo, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka, then transfer to the Akita Shinkansen to Akita Station. The venue is within walking distance.
  • There will be a lot of people during the festival, so it is recommended to leave early.
• Tips for viewing :
  1. Book paid viewing seats in advance for a better view.
  2. Bring a camera tripod and take spectacular photos of the lanterns at night.
  3. Be careful, as the pole lights may fall over due to wind or imbalance.
  4. The temperature in Akita is a little cool at night, so it is recommended to bring a light jacket.

💡 Editor's Note

The Kanto Festival feels like an art form of power and light. The daytime displays of skill are awe-inspiring, while the nighttime sea of ​​lights is truly moving. More than just a simple festival, it's the culmination of Akita's people's fusion of agricultural culture, religious beliefs, and the aesthetics of life.

If Aomori's Nebuta Festival is a passionate flame, then Akita's Kanto Festival is a warm sea of ​​light. 🌾💡 Every time the Kanto lights sway in the night sky, it's like waves of rice dancing in the wind, both spectacular and poetic.

If you come to Akita in the summer, the Kanto Festival is definitely a must-see event that you can’t miss! 🎇