Japanese festivals
japanese festival traditional festive occasion often celebrated dance music japan japan festival called matsuri 祭り origin word matsuri related kami 神 shinto deity theory word matsuri derived matsu 待つ meaning wait kami descend tatematsuru 献る meaning make offering kami matsurau 奉う meaning obey kami theory derived matsurau popular estimated festival across japan generating annual economic impact billion yen festival registered unesco intangible cultural heritage list yama hoko yatai float festival japan various folk dance costume procession kagura dengaku bugaku noh performed festival also registered unesco intangible cultural heritage list example folk dance including bon odori various region japan registered furyuodori costume procession including namahage registered raihōshin japanese festival reflect unique religious belief japanese people worship onryō 怨霊 vengeful spirit violent kami based background japan frequent natural disaster based syncretism shinto buddhism japanese people worship spirit inhabit thing soul ancestor also terrifying onryō violent kami protect people epidemic natural disaster example gion matsuri tenjin matsuri ja kanda matsuri considered three major festival japan worship onryō gozu tennō sugawara michizane taira masakado respectively pray good health protection natural disaster since festival held urban area attracts hundred thousand million spectator year hand gion matsuri aoi matsuri jidai matsuri considered three major festival kyoto gion matsuri attracts huge crowd see procession huge dashi 山車 matsuri float mikoshi 神輿 portable shrine aoi matsuri jidai matsuri attract crowd see procession people dressed period costume aomori nebuta matsuri tokushima awa odori large historic festival local city attract million visitor year million visitor year respectively according survey ranked first second respectively recognition japan gion matsuri third place also many japanese festival kami prayed good harvest rice crop agricultural festival different ceremony held four season festival classified different type otauematsuri 御田植祭 akimatsuri 秋祭り according significance general festival held spring pray good harvest year festival held summer pray rice crop free pest storm damage festival held fall offer gratitude harvest festival held winter pray good harvest new year many secular modern festival also held sapporo snow festival attracting million visitor many japanese festival kami prayed good harvest rice crop festival divided various type according significance ritual practice representative follows typical spring festival practice minakuchisai 水口祭 otauematsuri 御田植祭 minakuchisai day planting soil piled water intake rice field seasonal flower twig placed sake baked rice offered mountain kami otauematsuri young woman called saotome 早乙女 enter rice field plant rice seedling pray good harvest typical summer festival practice mushi okuri 虫送り amagoi 雨乞い mushi okuri torch lit night straw doll pest tied floated thrown river pray repulsion pest amagoi dance dedicated kami fire lit pray rain typical fall festival practice niinamesai 新嘗祭 akimatsuri 秋祭り niinamesai new grain offered kami imperial court shinto shrine throughout japan thank harvest akimatsuri farmer rural village thank kami rice field send kami back mountain typical winter festival practice sagichō dondoyaki 左義長 どんど焼き taasobi 田遊び sagicho dondoyaki kadomatsu 門松 new year decoration burned mochi roasted eaten flame tasaburi farm work simulated shinto shrine hall 拝殿 haiden pray next year kami harvest matsuri 祭 japanese word festival holiday japan festival usually sponsored local shrine temple though secular festival often based around one event food stall entertainment carnival game keep people entertained based around temple shrine others hanabi firework still others around contest participant sport loin cloth see hadaka matsuri specific matsuri day japan date vary area area even within specific area festival day tend cluster around traditional holiday setsubun obon almost every locale least one matsuri late summerearly autumn usually related paddy harvest notable matsuri often feature procession may include elaborate float preparation procession usually organized level neighborhood machi prior local kami may ritually installed mikoshi paraded street one always find vicinity matsuri booth selling souvenir food takoyaki game goldfish scooping karaoke contest sumo match form entertainment often organized conjunction matsuri festival next lake renting boat also attraction favorite element popular matsuri nada kenka matsuri himeji neputa matsuri hirosaki often broadcast television entire nation enjoy sapporo snow festival one largest festival year sapporo held february one week began high school student built snow statue odori park central sapporo event large commercialized dozen large sculpture built festival along around smaller snow ice sculpture several concert event also held lake festival held beginning february held town yasumiya festival south side lake towada near wooden statue festival open day pm one enjoy activity going snow maze exploring japanese igloo eat food aomori akita prefecture firework show event held ice stage festival held annually feature colorful lantern float called nebuta pulled street central aomori festival held august – every year event attracts million visitor festival large nebuta float paraded street near aomori jr rail station float constructed wooden base metal frame japanese paper called washi painted onto frame amazing float finished historical figure kabuki painted paper float take year complete dance portion festival haneto dancer wear special costume dance everyone welcome purchase haneto costume may join fun mishima aomori nebuta festival event held every year thousand artist tohoku even region come nango perform largest openair jazz concert held tohoku region festival began small venue indoors large response fan expanded large annual festival one must purchase ticket event bernard summer jazz festival cost anything potential member public still need receive ticket enter event japan celebrates entire season cherry blossom festival nearly every region japan location food available park may decorated lantern location cherry blossom festival include yaedake cherry blossom festival okinawa festival take place late january – mid february matsuyama shiroyama koen cherry blossom festival matsuyamacity ehime festival take place early april matsue jozan koen festival matsuecity shimane festival feature illuminating cherry blossom tree night festival take place late marchearly april tsuyama kakuzan koen cherry blossom festival tsuyamacity okayama japanese tea ceremony music performer held festival festival held earlymid april takato joshi koen cherry blossom festival takatomachi inacity nagano prefecture tree region pink blossom festival held early april takada koen cherry blossom festival joetsucity niigata prefecture festival held earlymid april kitakai tenshochi cherry blossom festival kitakamicity iwate festival held mid aprilearly may hirosaki cherry blossom festival held hirosaki koen hirosakicity aomori prefecture festival held late aprilearly may mishima cherry blossom festival following japanese diaspora many place around world celebrate similar festival often called matsuri brazil host largest nikkei population world brazilian city host matsuri são paulo curitiba united state host nd largest nikkei population world american city host matsuri los angeles san jose phoenix wale adopted term matsuri name yearly drift festival us japanese name show sport japanese heritage event take place day anglesey track annual year seijin shiki coming age day second monday january hinamatsuri doll festival march hanami flower viewing late march early may hanamatsuri flower festival april tanabata star festival july shichigosan festival day child aged seven five three november ōmisoka new year eve december setsubun division season beginning four season february ennichi temple fair holiday related kami andor buddha japanese cultural festival date january – related celebration take place throughout january name oshōgatsu honorific prefix information new year observance elaborate japan annual event new year home cleaned debt paid osechi food lacquered tray new year prepared bought osechi food traditional food chosen lucky color shape luckysounding name hope obtaining good luck various area life new year home decorated holiday celebrated family gathering visit temple shrine formal call relative friend first day year ganjitsu usually spent member family people try stay awake eat toshikoshi soba noodle eaten midnight people also visit buddhist temple shinto shrine traditionally three visited called sanshamairi imperial palace dawn st emperor performs rite shihōhai worship fourquarters offer prayer wellbeing nation january public allowed enter inner palace ground day possible emperor birthday february nd rd day acquaintance visit one another extend greeting nenshi sip otoso spiced rice wine game played new year karuta card game hanetsuki similar badminton tako age kiteflying komamawashi spinning top game played bring luck year exchanging new year greeting card similar christmas card another important japanese custom also special allowance given child called otoshidama also decorate entrance kagami mochi two mochi rice ball placed one top tangerine top kadomatsu pine tree decoration later new year celebration koshōgatsu literally mean small new year start first full moon year around january main event koshōgatsu rite practice praying bountiful harvest date march name sangatsu sekku rd month festival momo sekku peach festival joshi sekku girl festival information day family pray happiness prosperity girl help ensure grow healthy beautiful celebration take place inside home seashore part meant ward evil spirit girl woman young girl woman put best kimono visit friend home tiered platform hina ningyō hina doll set doll representing emperor empress attendant musician ancient court dress set home family celebrates special meal hishimochi diamondshaped rice cake shirozake rice malt sake date april name hanami flower viewing cherry blossom festival information various flower festival held shinto shrine month april excursion picnic enjoying flower particularly cherry blossom also common well many drinking party often seen around auspicious park building area peach blossom traditional flower japan cherry symbol edo period symbolizing samurai culture viewed well though flower earlier cherry place flower viewing party held traditionally fixed date one popular event spring subject flower viewing long held important place literature dance fine art ikebana flower arrangement also popular part japanese culture still practiced many people today main thing people event game folk song folk dance flower display ride parade concert kimono show booth food thing beauty pageant religious ceremony family go weekend see cherry blossom participate many festival activity date april name flower festival information hanamatsuri celebrates birth buddha day temple hold 降誕会 gōtane 仏生会 busshōe 浴仏会 yokubutsue 龍華会 ryūgee 花会式 hanaeshiki japanese people pour amacha beverage prepared variety hydrangea small buddha statue decorated flower bathing newborn baby tradition bathing buddha originated china introduced japan first held nara lion dancing also major tradition practiced buddha birthday become associated festival japan date july august – sendai name star festival information originated chinese folk legend concerning two starsthe weaver star vega cowherd star altairwho said lover could meet year th night th month provided rain flood milky way named tanabata weaving maiden japanese legend named orihime believed make clothes god people often write wish romantic aspiration long narrow strip colored paper hang bamboo branch along small ornament date july information one traditional custom mark end bon festival small paper lantern containing burning flame either set afloat river lake sea let go float away night light intended guide way deceased family member spirit usually person let lantern go write message side date august – information buddhist observance honoring spirit ancestor usually spirit altar shōryōdana set front butsudan buddhist altar welcome ancestor soul priest may asked come read sutra tanagyō among traditional preparation ancestor return cleaning grave site welcoming fire mukaebi built th sendoff fire okuribi built th th intended guide ancestor spirit back permanent dwelling place date october information japanese tradition going visit scenic area leaf turned red autumn tradition said originated heian era cultured pursuit date november information japanese tradition buying eating pocky stick date november information three sevenyearold girl fiveyearold boy taken local shrine pray safe healthy future festival started belief child certain age especially prone bad luck hence need divine protection child usually dressed traditional clothing occasion visiting shrine many people buy chitoseame thousandyear candy sold shrine date late december name yearend 年の瀬 toshi se yearend fair 年の市 toshi ichi information preparation seeing new year originally undertaken greet toshigami deity incoming year begin december house given thorough cleaning date usually nearer end month house decorated traditional fashion sacred rope straw shimenawa dangling white paper strip shide hung front door prevent evil spirit entering show presence toshigami also customary place kadomatsu arrangement tree sprig beside entrance way special altar known toshidana year shelf piled high kagamimochi flat round rice cake sake rice wine persimmon food honor toshigami fair traditionally held late december shrine temple local neighborhood preparation new year holiday decoration sundry good sold fair originally yearend fair provided opportunity farmer fisherfolk mountain dweller exchange good buy clothes necessity coming year date december new year eve information people general house cleaning ōsōji welcome coming year keep impure influence many people visit buddhist temple hear temple bell rung time midnight joya kane announce passing old year coming new reason rung time buddhist belief human being plagued earthly desire passion bonnō ring one desire dispelled also custom eat toshikoshi soba hope one family fortune extend like long noodle list festival japan abare festival culture japan naked festival japanese calendar jinjitsu nanakusanosekku subaru cherry blossom festival greater philadelphia national cherry blossom festival washington dc kōhaku maku sakai matsuri mothrarerforjphiroshimaabout matsuri external article covering topic ministry land nd chitoselake shikotsu ice festival retrieved august yokoso japan week httpwwwyjwjpenginfophpno bernard july nango hold summer jazz festival retrieved august aboutcom httpswebarchiveorgwebhttpwwwmisawaafmilnewsstoryprintaspid gianola february chitose lake shikotsu ice festival retrieved august vr mag httpwwwvrmagorgissuechitoselakeshikotsuicefestivalhtml archived november wayback machine japanguidecom nd sapporo snow festival retrieved august japanguidecom httpwwwjapanguidecomeehtml misawajapancom nd lake towada winter festival retrieved august misawajapancom httpwwwmisawajapancomfestivalsotherstowadawinterasp mishima nd aomori nebuta festival retrieved august aboutcom httpswebarchiveorgwebhttpgojapanaboutcomcstohokuregionaaomorinebutahtm mishima nd cherry blossom festival retrieved august aboutcom httpgojapanaboutcomcscherryblossomsasakurafestivalhtm archived november wayback machine primack richard b higuchi hiroyoshi millerrushing abraham j september impact climate change cherry tree specie japan biological conservation – bibcodebconsp doijbiocon official site festival japan—japan atlas list japanese festival united state japan national tourist organization photo library unesco intangible heritage yama hoko yatai float festival japan – unesco matsuri site matsuri festival phoenix arizona matsuri photo shinto shrine english version subaru cherry blossom festival greater philadelphia archived january wayback machine matsuri calendarjapanese private initiative sitesgalleries jciticom nagoya see festival section reggienet archived wayback machine—photographs neputa float hirosaki description odawara omatsuri festival—archived digital matsuri project—japanese festival video public sitesgalleries matsuri brisbane photograph state library queensland