Special Events 2010

Upcoming Events

late June - late July Tenjin Festival, Osaka

Located next to Kyoto, Osaka has a long history as a flourishing commercial center of Japan. The festival has a history of over 1,000 years, beginning when the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine held a ceremony to stimulate people's health for the summer and town people set a boat adrift down the Okawa River to welcome the Shinto god Tenjin. Today 3,000 people in historical costumes parade to the sound of drumbeats during the festival. About 100 boats decorated with lanterns sail up and down the river, and the festival reaches its climax when 3,000 fireworks are set off in the night sky, which is why the festival is also called as the "festival of fire and water."
http://www.osaka-info.jp/tenjin_matsuri/

Jul. Gion Festival, Kyoto

The Gion Festival has a history of over 1,000 years in Kyoto and covers the whole month of July. If you have a chance to visit Kyoto during this month, please witness the pith of Japanese culture through this festival. Here are some of the highlights:
On July 2nd, the Kyoto's mayor and other city representatives wearing ancient costumes get together at City Hall to draw the order that floats will appear in during the procession held on the 17th. From the 13th to 16th, the public can visit certain houses where house treasures are displayed only at this time during the year. On the night of the 16th there is a dedicative art performance, and on the morning of 17th a procession of 32 gorgeous floats finally starts toward Kyoto's midtown. Children wearing ancient costumes also join the festival and streets are crowded with visitors from all over the world. In addition, food and craft stands adorn every street during the festivities.
http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/info_required/traditional/kyoto_city/02/

Jul. 19 - Oct. 31 Setouchi International Art Festival 2010

On the seven islands of the Seto Inland Sea and in Takamatsu port, this art festival will see people gather throughout Japan and rest of the world. Historically, the Seto Inland Sea has been a marine traffic route and also abundant with fish and seafood. Each island has its own unique history and cultures. Seto Inland Sea, Kagawa

Aug. 2 - 7 Aomori Nebuta Festival, Aomori

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is said to have originated as a combination of the Star and Bon Festivals. Nebuta are gigantic colorful paper floats featuring effigies of warriors that are illuminated from the inside, as tall as 17 feet and designed to look like characters from history, myths, and Kabuki dramas. Creating the Nebuta takes almost a year. The festival attracts over 3 million people annually and twenty Nebuta are paraded through the city at night, pulled by people called "Haneto" who dance around to lively music. Anyone can put on the special costume and join the festival as a Haneto.
http://www2.nebuta.or.jp/english/index_e.htm

Aug. 3 - 6 Akita Kanto Festival, Akita

The Akita Kanto Festival is held to drive off the demon of drowsiness that hampers people's work throughout the year. A "kanto" is a long bamboo pole with numerous cross bars on which forty-six or forty-eight lanterns are hung. The shape of kanto poles represents ears of rice, and they're used to pray for abundant crops. In Akita, people create about 180 kanto and the highlight of the festival is a competition among local youths who compete with each other in balancing the kantos on their heads, shoulders, and hands as they dance to the accompaniment of drums.
http://www.city.akita.akita.jp/en/sightseeing/matsuri/default.htm

Aug. 6 - 8 Sendai Tanabata Festival, Sendai

The origin of this festival is not clear but is related to the ancient Japanese myth that August 7th is the only day when a pair of lovers, stars separated by the Milky Way, can see each other. During the festival, people in Sendai decorate the city with hundreds of bunches of bamboo stems. There are seven specific types of decorations and each decoration has its own wish, such as longevity and wealth. This festival has spread throughout not only Japan but also abroad to several cities, including some in Brazil.
http://www.kankou-miyagi.net/cgi-bin/ss_detail.cgi?ID=2220007&country=eng&ef=lst

Aug. 6 - 15 Kyo-no Tanabata, Kyoto

Kyoto is holding the traditional Tanabata festival (star festival) in the name of Kyo-no Tanabata. From August 6 through 15, the event will articulate three elements, rivers, lights and bamboo, to express the traditional beauty of summer in Kyoto. At Kamogawa and Horikawa in the city, seasonal decorations and soothing lanterns will be displayed. In particular, Horikawa riverside will become a dreamy walkway under bamboo monuments and art sculptures. The river itself will be lit with floating LED lights to depict the Milky Way from Japan's star festival legend.

The Kamogawa River will be filled with "yuka" (literally: floor) on which local restaurants and cafés will open outdoor extensions for a breezier and cooler dining atmosphere during Kyoto's muggy summer. In addition to the unique summer tradition, the event will add LED lanterns and bamboo decorations to create a one-of-a-kind cityscape.

The Tanabata festival celebrates an ancient legendary couple that was forced to separate and is only allowed to meet over the Milky Way once a year. The festival's tradition is to write down your wishes on colorful origami banners and hang them on the bamboo branches, so the Kyo-no Tanabata will set up boxes where visitors can submit their wishes at major shrines and temples in Kyoto, as well as the tourist information counters.
http://www.kyoto.travel/kyo_no_tanabata.html

Oct. 7 - 9 Kunchi, Nagasaki

Nagasaki Kunchi is held from October 7 to 9. During this festival, each neighborhood dedicates a characteristic performance to Suwa Shrine with its own float. This festival has a mixed flair of Portugese, Dutch and Chinese culture because Nagasaki used to be the only port open to foreign countries in the Edo Era (17th -19th century), during which time various cultures were imported and assimilated. To watch the performance up and close, you may want to buy a ticket in advance starting at 1,500 yen ($19) going to 7,500 yen ($83).
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a52_fes_kunchi.html

Another Kunchi Festival is held in Karatsu from November 3 to 5. Gigantic floats called hikiyama are paraded through the streets of the old castle town along with the traditional music of flutes, drums and shouts. These floats are craftwork themselves which are made with special techniques using lacquer and Japanese paper. Karatsu is also well-known for its ceramics and fresh seafood.
http://www.city.karatsu.lg.jp/foreign/english/sightseeing.html

Nov. 3 Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu, Kanagawa

Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu is a festive reenactment of the feudal lord's procession featuring various ranks of samurai armed with guns and bows, female servants, palanquins and rickshaws. The parade passes through the old streets of the hot spring town of Hakone. Hakone is only 90 minutes from Tokyo by train. Not only can you enjoy the parade and hot springs but also the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji. The parade is held on November 3.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a60_fes_hakone.html

Dec. 3 Chichibu Yomatsuri (Night Festival), Saitama

The main attraction of Chichibu Yomatsuri Festival comes on December 3 when the kasaboko and yatai floats are lit up with many lanterns and paraded through the streets with a spectacular fireworks show at the end. Chichibu is also very accessible, only 90 minutes from Tokyo by train.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a63_fes_chichibu.html

Dec. 4 - 14 Ambassador Oguri Exhibition (* Contact) , Takasaki City Hall (Takasaki City, Japan)

 

 

Events in the US: Save the Date!

Jul. 30 - Aug. 1 Otakon, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore MD

One of the biggest anime events in the U.S. JNTO will have a booth and there will be a sweepstakes. See you there!
http://www.otakon.com/

Aug. 6 - 22 Indiana State Fair, Indiana State Fairground, Indianapolis, IN

This year the fair has a Japan Pavilion called "Bridges to Japan" and many Japan-related performances and exhibits. JNTO will have a booth from August 6th to 9th and there will be a sweepstakes to win $1,000 discount air tiket!

The new "Bridges to Japan" exhibit in the International Pavilion, also known as the Grand Hall, will show Indiana State Fair visitors what the Japanese culture is all about, as well as the many connections between the state and Japan.

The exhibits feature traditional Japanese customs like tea ceremonies, Japanese calligraphy, sumo wrestling, and a myriad of music and dance performances.
Once inside "Bridges to Japan," guests will be able to pass through a bamboo forest and garden or cross over a koi pond on a traditional Japanese bridge. Japanese architectural styles will be readily apparent with a traditional inn featuring tatami mats and a Japanese stage.

JNTO will be giving the quiz shows on the stage with the following schedule where the Special "JAPAN T-shirts" are given to the ones with correct answers.

Aug 6	Aug 7	Aug 8	Aug 9
4:30PM-5:00PM	10:00AM-10:30AM 1PM-1:30PM 4:30PM-5:00PM	10:30AM-11:00AM 12:30PM-1:00PM 6:00PM-6:30PM	10:00AM-10:30AM

Don't miss your chance to win all these great prizes at Indiana State Fair. See you there!
http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/exhibits/grand_hall.html

Aug. 14 - 22 70th Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA

On August 15 at 5:30 pm starts the Grand Parade featuring Aomori's Nebuta float.
http://www.niseiweek.org/

Sep. 11 & 12 Aki Matsuri, Bellevue College Main Campus, Bellevue, WA

Every Fall, ENMA presents "Aki Matsuri (Fall Festival)", a 2-day program of Japanese cultural, educational, and fun events for all age groups, to celebrate Japan's rich cultural heritage. A large number of local artists and craftpersons practicing Japanese-style arts and crafts (including the performing arts and martial arts), and Japan related businesses & organizations will be participating during the entire two day event. JNTO LA office will be providing brochures.
http://www.enma.org/2010/overview.htm

Sep. 25 & 26 Festival Japan, Uwajimaya Plaza, Beaverton, OR

http://www.jaso.org/calendar/January10.html

Oct. 8 - 10 New York Anime Festival, Javits Center, New York, NY

This year the festival will be held in conjunction with New York Comic Con.
JNTO will have a booth and there will be a sweepstakes. See you there!
http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/NYAF/

Jul. 1 - 4 Anime Expo 2010, Los Angeles

Anime Expo 2010, the largest anime and manga convention in North America, will be held in Los Angeles, California from July 1st-4th. For those interested in anime and manga, this is a must- attend event as it is filled with movie premiers, concerts, and celebrity appearances, just to name a few activities.

JNTO will have a booth at Anime Expo 2010 to answer any of your travel related questions regarding Japan, along with the Consulate General of Japan in LA as well as the Japan Foundation. We will also have maps and brochures on hand to help aid in your future travel plans. Please stop by and let us help you plan your next trip to Japan!
http://www.anime-expo.org/