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Four season in Akita |
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A long time ago, the people of Akita worshipped nature for its ability to sustain them, and they prayed for plentiful harvests. They did so while dreaming of spring during the long, hard winters, and with an outpouring of enthusiasm during the short summers. Akita's numerous festivals represent each season and have been passed down from generation to generation. |
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Spring-Summer Though remnants of snow still remain, nature springs to life and cherry trees start to blossom. People celebrate the beginning of a new season. |
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Gannin Dance in Hachirogata Town on May 5: Men dressed as females perform a unique dance. The short, comical skit 'Sadakuro' from the kabuki play 'Chushingura' is very popular among the audience.
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Komachi Festival in Ogachi Town on the second Sunday in June: Seven young women wearing woven hats recite seven "waka" poems. The festival is indicative of the Heian period. |
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Tsuzureko Drum Festival in Takanosu Town on July 14 and 15: A rainmaking ritual that has been performed for the past 700 years. Drums of over 3 meters in diameter, including the world's largest drum, are played at this festival.
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Kanto Festival in Akita City from August 3 to 6: Young men balance tiers of lanterns hung on 50 kilograms bamboo poles. This spectacular festival is held at night and is a real crowd pleaser.
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Hanawabayashi in Kazuno City on August 19 and 20: In this festival, we can enjoy the wonderful sounds of the flute accompanied by lively drums, performed on a beautiful float. This music is known as one of Japan's three finest musical accompaniments.
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 The National Fireworks Competition in Omagari City on the fourth Saturday in August: This competition dates back to 1910 and is a great opportunity for some of Japan's most skilled firework specialists to show off their techniques and ideas. |
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Autumn-Winter When ears of rice shine gold, Akita prepares for its harvest among mountains painted with the colors of autumn. |
 Oyamabayashi, the main event of the Kakunodate Festival, in Kakunodate Town from September 7 to 9: At the climax of the festival, the 'Yama Buttuke', floats violently collide with each other in a kind of competition. The noise of the floats crashing together is thunderous. |
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Dainichido Bugaku in Kazuno City on January 2: Bugaku (court dances and music) from over a thousand years ago. Noh players perform an ancient dance as part of Ohirumuchi Shrine's annual festival.
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Amekko Market in Odate City on Febraury 11 and 12: It is said that if you eat candy on one of these days, you will not catch a cold. Many people come to the market to buy candy.
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 Namahage Sedo Festival in Oga City, from Friday to Sunday, that involves second Sunday in February: Dozens of Namahage (people dressed as messengers of gods) come down from the mountains carrying torches in their hands, and dance in front of the sedo (the fire to ward off evil spirits). This is a raucous and yet mysterious festival.
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 Inukko Festival in Yuzawa City on the second Saturday and Sunday in February: This festival is said to have originated in the customs of 380 years ago. In those days, with their wish to avoid robberies, people decorated their house entrance with small images of dogs, cranes and tortoises made from rice powder. |
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Kamakura Festival in Yokote City on February 15 and 16: Children build small snow huts (kamakura) and play inside. Snow country's most poetic and traditional event.
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