Summer in Japan: Artistic, Cultural, and Music Festivals (Part 1)

Explore the Japan's Cultural and Artistic Heritage in Summer

Summer in Japan is a global center of activity, showcasing a wide range of festivals and events that display the country's rich cultural heritage, refined artistic expression, and love of music and life.

The many traditional festivals, or matsuri, that take place throughout Japan are among the most important events of the summer season. Often featuring shows, music, dance, and food stalls, these festivals offer an artistic glimpse into a grand masterpiece that portrays Japan's unique customs and traditions.

Japan is also renowned for its vibrant and lively arts scene found throughout the country, which includes a variety of events and festivals during the summer season. From spectacular street festivals featuring fireworks, colorful lights, and traditional dance, to a wide range of art exhibitions and cultural events, Japan's summer season offers a diverse range of activities. From contemporary art exhibitions to classical music concerts, the summer in Japan is incomplete without the numerous music festivals held throughout the country. These festivals showcase a diverse range of music, from rock and pop to hip-hop and electronic music, attracting both local and world-renowned artists. Indeed, the summer Japan has something for everyone.

Japan's top summer street festivals.

During the summer season, Japan hosts numerous popular festivals that attract visitors from all over the world. Among the most important are the street festivals that take place outdoors and are characterized by colorful lights, popular food, live music, traditional dances, and fireworks displays.

The Tanabata Festival in Sendai city

The Tanabata Festival is one of the most important traditional street festivals in Japan, held annually in the city of Sendai between July 6 and 8. The festival is celebrated in honor of the lunar calendar, and features the hanging of colorful paper decorations and tree leaves on bamboo trees, as well as the lighting of streets with colorful lanterns to create a magical and romantic atmosphere.

The festival is well-known for its handmade, colorful paper decorations displayed on the streets, shops, and public areas, with various shapes and designs hanging in the air. It also includes traditional music and dance performances, a craft and local product exhibition, and an array of traditional foods and sweets for visitors to enjoy.

The legend goes: Orihime was the daughter of the king of the sky, and she loved weaving beautiful fabrics. However, she felt lonely and sad because there was no one to share this hobby with.

One day, Orihime met a handsome young man named Hikoboshi, who was a lover of working in the fields and herding cows. The two quickly fell in love and began meeting regularly along the River of the Sky, causing them to neglect their work.

But after a short while, the king of the sky became jealous of his daughter Orihime's laziness and preoccupation with her lover. He decided to separate them and put a broad river between them. "Other tales say that it was the Milky Way" and they were unable to meet again.

Orihime and Hikoboshi were both devastated by this harsh separation, and they couldn't wait. After hearing their complaints, the king of the sky decided to allow them to meet once a year on the night of Tanabata. They worked hard all year long, eagerly anticipating this happy night.

In this way, the Japanese celebrate the Tanabata festival each year, decorating trees with colorful leaves and enchanting lights. The festival is considered a symbol of love and romance in Japanese culture, predating the story of the Italian lovers Romeo and Juliet.

The Sumida River "Fireworks Festival" in Tokyo and its suburbs.

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, featuring unique and stunning designs, will launch at 7:00 pm on Saturday, July 29th, the fifth year of the Reiwa era, after a relatively long hiatus since its last occurrence in summer 2019 due to the aftermath of Covid-19. The festival showcases one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan and attracts over a million visitors annually from all over Japan and the world. This festival represents one of the most significant cultural events in Tokyo, reflecting Japan's rich culture and historical traditions, and is one of the capital's top tourist attractions.

The tradition of holding the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Tokyo and its suburbs dates back to 1733 when a celebration was held to pray for the victims of a severe famine that struck the country in the same year in the 18th century. Recently, the festival has become an amazing annual event since 1978, combining the natural beauty of the Sumida River with the beauty of fireworks displays. The festival offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy magnificent fireworks shows along the river from Asakusa Station near Umaya Bridge to Sakurabashi Bridge, providing them with beautiful sights and unforgettable memories.

The fireworks displays at this festival are among the largest in Japan, with over 20,000 pieces of fireworks set to launch during an hour and a half. The fireworks display includes a variety of shapes, including fireballs, flowers, different geometric shapes, double and triple-dimensional fireworks, and moving fireworks. In addition, many other events are offered during the festival, such as traditional dances, music, and Japanese cuisine.

"Gion Matsuri" festival:

The Gion Matsuri festival is an annual festival held in Kyoto, Japan, and is one of the most famous festivals in the country. The festival takes place throughout the month of July and includes many cultural and traditional events.

The history of the Gion Matsuri festival dates back to the ninth century in 869 to appease the gods and rid the country of plagues. It is an important tradition in Kyoto's culture and Japan as a whole. The festival is organized by the Yasaka Shrine, which is one of the most famous temples in the city. The festival events are distributed throughout the month according to the official travel guide of Kyoto city. Press here ..

In the first half of the month, traditional art exhibitions are displayed, and traditional music and dances are performed in the city streets. Traditional food and sweets are also distributed to visitors, along with important events such as:

July 2

Kujitori-shiki: (Drawing lots) This event for make drawing lots to decide the order of a floats procession in front of Festival leaders and the mayor.

July 10, evening

Omukae-Chochin (Welcoming Lanterns): Shrine parishioners use long bamboo poles to hoist festival lanterns and pay their respects to sacred carriages at the Shrine.

July 10

Mikoshi-Arai (Rites of Cleaning the Sacred Carriages): A special cleaning ritual for the Shinto Shrine's sacred carriages. The Yasaka Jinja Shrine's main sacred carriage is carried undecorated to Shijo Ohashi Bridge, where the Shrine's chief priest conducts purification rites by the Kamogawa River.

July 14-16

Former Festival Yoiyama: The pedestrian roads and floats are exquisitely adorned with festival lanterns. When night falls, the floats are illuminated, and Gion Matsuri music fills the air. Each float has a nearby room displaying the treasures that will be attached to it for the procession.

In the second half of the month, carnival floats and fireworks displays are showcased, along with the traditional Japanese fan dance "Yamabushi" on July 17th, and the following important events:

July 17th, 9:00 AM

Yamahoko-Junko Festival (Float Parade): 23 floats parade through the streets of Shijo, Kawaramachi, and Oike, displaying their magnificent decorations in the bright summer sun.

July 17th

Shinko-Sai (Sacred Carriage Procession): Men transport the three sacred carriages from the shrine to their temporary residence on Shijo Street.

July 21st to 23rd

Last Yoiyama Festival: Pedestrian streets and floats are beautifully decorated with festival lanterns. When night falls, the floats light up, and the air fills with the music of Gion Matsuri. Each float has a nearby chamber displaying the treasures to be attached to it for the procession.

July 24th, 9:30 AM

Last Yamahoko-Junko Festival (Float Parade): 11 floats are displayed through the streets of Oike, Kawaramachi, and Shijo.

July 24th

Hanagasa-Junko (Flower Umbrella Parade)

July 24th

Kanko-Sai (Sacred Carriage Return Procession): The three sacred carriages are returned to their shrine after being transported to their temporary residence.

July 28th

Mikoshi Arai (Cleansing Ritual of Sacred Carriages): The sacred carriages are cleaned on the Shijo Ohashi bridge after a venerable tradition and returned to the shrine around 8:00 PM.

July 31st, 10:00 AM

Nagoshi Festival at Iki-jinja Shrine: A large wreath of flowers (chinowa) is created at the Yasaka Shrine, and the chinowa kuguri ritual is held.

This festival is characterized by its festive atmosphere, diverse events, and giant mobile museums. It is also the perfect opportunity to enjoy traditional Japanese culture and learn about the history and unique cultural heritage of Kyoto city.

Conclusion:

Summer in Japan is the perfect opportunity to explore its cultural and artistic heritage. There are many festivals such as the Tanabata Festival in Sendai, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Tokyo and its suburbs, and the Gion Matsuri festival. These festivals are characterized by artistic performances, music, and fireworks displays, attracting many tourists and locals alike. The first part of the article provides a brief and concise overview of these festivals.

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