Aomori Nebuta Matsuri

Overview

The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a summer festival representative of the Tohoku region, held every year from August 2 to 7 in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture. The sight of enormous lanterns called nebuta, shaped like warriors and deities, parading through the night streets while emitting countless lights is overwhelming, and it is counted, along with the Akita Kanto Matsuri and the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, as one of the three great festivals of Tohoku. Designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the nation, it draws millions of tourists from Japan and abroad during its run.

The stars of the festival are the large nebuta, which reach about 5 meters in height and about 9 meters in width, and the haneto, or leapers, who dance wildly around them. The frenzy of the haneto, leaping and dancing to the cry of rassera, and the fantastical sight of valiant warrior paintings floating up in the lights come together as one, wrapping the onlooker in an overwhelming fervor.

History and Origins

There are various theories about the origin of the Nebuta Matsuri, but the one considered most compelling holds that it derives from the nemuri-nagashi rite of driving away the drowsiness that hinders summer farm work. The very name nebuta is thought to be a corruption of nemuri, meaning sleep, and the custom of a purification rite, in which lanterns are floated down rivers and out to sea to send off impurity along with drowsiness, flows at the foundation of this festival.

Such nemuri-nagashi rites are thought to have joined with customs from various regions, such as the floating of Tanabata lanterns and the sending-off of ancestral spirits, and, over the ages, to have developed into large figure-shaped lanterns. What began as simple lanterns gradually grew larger and more elaborate from the Edo period into the Meiji era, refined into the form of three-dimensional warrior figures drawing on themes from kabuki, myth, and legend.

What characterizes the nebuta of today is the existence of the nebuta-shi, the specialist makers. Using traditional techniques, in which they make a framework of wire, paste on washi paper and color it, and light it from within, the nebuta-shi spend several months making a single large nebuta. Outstanding nebuta-shi are respected as masters, and their skill and artistry have raised the quality of the festival year by year.

After the war, the Nebuta Matsuri developed greatly as a centerpiece of tourism, and many large nebuta, whose production costs are borne by companies and neighborhood associations, came to be paraded. Nebuta devised with ingenuity by each operating group compete with one another, a system in which prizes are awarded to outstanding works has been established, and the traditional rite has grown into a tourist festival representative of the present day.

Highlights

The Enormous Warrior-Painting Nebuta The greatest highlight of the festival is, above all, the large nebuta themselves. Onto a giant body about 5 meters tall, famous scenes from kabuki and the valiant figures of deities and warlords are sculpted in three dimensions, and the light from within makes the vividly colored warrior paintings float up into the night sky. The dynamic sculpting and vivid colors have a force truly worthy of being called moving art.

Rassera and the Wild Dance of the Haneto Leaping and dancing around the nebuta to the cry of rassera, rassera are the haneto, or leapers. The sight of the haneto, clad in vivid costumes with flower hats, leaping all at once to the music of drums and flutes is overwhelming, and the openness whereby anyone can take part in the festival as a haneto simply by wearing the correct costume is also a great charm of this festival.

The Skill and Contest of the Nebuta-shi The more than twenty large nebuta paraded are each a work of utmost effort by a different nebuta-shi. The individuality of each maker appears in the choice of theme, the boldness of composition, and the skill of coloring, and the pleasure of comparing them is endless. Prizes such as the Nebuta Grand Prize are awarded to outstanding works, and the contest of skill among the nebuta-shi forms the core that supports the artistry of the festival.

Music and the Layered Production of Sound Supporting the parade of the nebuta is the spirited music of drums, flutes, and hand-waved gongs. The belly-resounding sound of the great drums, the melody of the flutes, and the high tones of the gongs overlap, and together with the cries of the haneto they elevate the entire festival. This layered production of sound draws the audience into the fervor of the festival not only through sight but through hearing as well.

The Sea Procession and Fireworks of the Final Day Adorning the finale of the festival is the sea procession, held at night after the daytime parade of August 7. The prize-winning nebuta are placed on barges and carried across the sea of Aomori Port, and the sight of their forms reflected on the night sea together with fireworks has a solemn beauty fitting to conclude the six-day festival, and many spectators share in the final frenzy.

Facilities Conveying the Traditions of the Festival In Aomori City there is a facility called Nebuta Warasse, which displays actual nebuta throughout the year. Even outside the festival period one can encounter the force of the large nebuta and the making techniques of the nebuta-shi, and it is an indispensable highlight for a deep understanding of the history and artistry of the festival.

Event Information

• Location: The central city area of Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture (the parade course), and Aomori Port (the sea procession)
• Period: August 2 to 7 each year
• Main Events: The nighttime parade of large nebuta, the wild dance of the haneto, and the sea procession and fireworks display of the final day
• Access: The parade course is within walking distance of JR Aomori Station. Traffic is restricted during the period, so public transport is recommended
• Admission: Free to watch from the roadside (some paid viewing seats are available)
• Official Information: The parade schedule and course are announced through the official information of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Executive Committee

Nearby Attractions

In Aomori City, the base of the festival, in addition to the aforementioned Nebuta Warasse, approachable tourist facilities gather along the waterfront of Aomori Port. One can enjoy, alongside the festival, scenery unique to a sea and harbor town, such as the Aomori Bay Bridge and the display of the Hakkoda-maru, which once served as a Seikan ferry.

Aomori is also known for its rich food culture, and at the Aomori Fish and Vegetable Center, the nokke-don, made by choosing one's favorite ingredients, is popular as a local specialty. Being able to relish the flavors of Tsugaru, including fresh seafood, amid the fervor of the festival is also one of the great pleasures of visiting Aomori.

Venturing a little farther, sights unique to Aomori are scattered about, such as the World Heritage Sanmaru Maruyama site, Mount Hakkoda with its beautiful nature in every season, and the renowned hot springs of Tsugaru. Using the Nebuta Matsuri as a starting point for a journey, one can expand into a trip along the roads of Tsugaru, touring Jomon history, magnificent nature, and hot springs.

Related Information

• Month: Early August (summer)
• Prefecture: Aomori Prefecture (Tohoku region)
• Origin: Said to derive from the nemuri-nagashi purification rite
• Standing: One of the three great festivals of Tohoku, along with the Akita Kanto Matsuri and the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri
• Cultural Property: Designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the nation
• Highlights: The roughly 5-meter-tall large nebuta, the haneto leaping to the cry of rassera, and the sea procession and fireworks of the final day

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