The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a Japanese summer festival held in early August in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. The highlight of the festival is the daily parade of enormous lantern floats, called nebuta, which are up to 9 meters wide and 5 meters tall and often depict gods, historical figures, and characters. They are pushed through the streets accompanied by teams of drummers, flute players, and hundreds of dancers chanting and performing dances. The festival attracts many tourists and is one of the largest in the Tohoku region.

1. Aomori NebutaMatsuri
The highlight of the festival is the
daily parade of enormous lantern
floats, flanked by large taiko drums,
musicians and dancers.
Yash Aggarwal

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Japanese (FBL) Assignment
Topic: Japanese festivals
Name: Yash Aggarwal
Course BBA General Sem: I
Enrollment No.: 50006420012
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a Japanese summer festival that takes
place in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan in early August. The
festival attracts the most tourists of any of the country's nebuta
festivals, and is counted among the three largest festivals in the
Tōhoku region.
Content-
i) History
ii) Why is Aomori Nebuta Matsuri celebrated?
iii) How is Aomori Nebuta Matsuri celebrated?
iv) What does Nebuta mean?
v) Bibliography

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History of Nebuta Matsuri
Involves the etymology of the word
Nebuta . Aterui , a general from the Tōhoku region, united
the Emishi people who had been chased out of their native territory
and defeated Ki no Kosami's army of 50,000 at Kitakami River to
advance all the way to Fuji, Shizuoka. This army battled
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro's forces for over 12 years, but was
ultimately defeated. Aterui was captured and taken to Osaka
Prefecture, where he was granted an audience with the ruler before
being beheaded. Aterui's severed head was shown off to the
public, and his family and followers still remaining in the Tōhoku
region were forced to dig large holes where they were buried
alive. Dirt was thrown over these graves, and those who
surrendered to the Japanese forces and became slaves were
instructed to stomp over the dirt. This event is said to be the origin
of Nebuta (written "根蓋" in kanji), as Aterui's followers were sent
back to their roots or to the world of the dead with the dirt as a
covering. According to this episode, the dancers stomp the

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ground while carrying the float of Sakanoue No Tamuramaro on
their shoulders.
Why is Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
celebrated?
The most widely known explanation is that the festival originated from
the flutes and taiko, future shōgun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro used to
attract the attention of the enemy during a battle in Mutsu Province.
The Tamuramaro Shō (Tamuramaro Prize) was created around this
explanation in 1962 to be awarded to the festival's best group
participant (later renamed to the Nebuta Taishō). However, it is
unlikely that Tamuramaro actually conducted military expeditions in
what is currently Aomori Prefecture, so this explanation is considered
to be a legend. The festival most likely evolved out of
traditional Shintoceremonies like Tanabata.
The floats often feature images
of kabukiactors, various types of gods, and historical or mythical
figures from Japanese or Chinese culture, but modern Nebuta floats

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may also feature famous regional personalities or characters from
television shows
HOW IS AOMORI NEBUTA MATSURI
CELEBRATED?
Local teams build the festival's two dozen floats, which are constructed of
painted washi paper over a wire frame and take an entire year to design and
construct. They can be up to nine meters wide and five meters tall and often
depict gods, historical or mythical figures from both Japanese and Chinese
culture, kabuki actors, and characters from the popular NHK Taiga Drama
historical TV series.
When the parade is held in the afternoon, the floats are pushed along the
street by human power,weaving back and forth, and spinning around for the
crowd. Each float is accompanied by teams of taiko drummers, flute and
hand cymbals players, as well as hundreds of dancers, called haneto in the
local dialect, who follow the procession chanting "Rassera, Rassera" while
performing a dance that looks a little bit like skipping.
Participation in the parade
is encouraged, and people come from all around to join in the dancing. The
only requirement is that you wear the traditional haneto dancing costume
that can be bought at grocery stores and shops around the prefecture for
about 7000 yen. On the first two nights of the festival the parades are
somewhat smaller with only about two thirds of the lantern floats
participating. However on the nights from August 4 to 6 the parades are in
full swing and every float makes an appearance. All the floats are also
displayed in the afternoon parade on the last day of the festival, before some
of the floats are put onto boats and paraded around the bay in the evening.

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Finally, a two hour fireworks display along the waterfront closes off the
festivities.
What does Nebuta mean?
What exactly is a nebuta? In short, it is a giant lantern. Today, light bulbs
are used inside the giant statues but in the past, they were lit by
candlelight. The lanterns sent down rivers during the Tanabata Festival,
combined with the word “sleepy” (“nemutai”) also are said to have led to
the history behind how these massive lights came to be used in this now
famous Nebuta Matsuri. During the Tanabata Festival, dolls and tree
branches meant to personify individuals were put into rivers and the ocean
as a symbol of expelling bad omens before harvest time. In Toyama
Prefecture, there is now a Nebuta Nagashi ” where people pray for long
life, good health and protection from evil. Larger than life sized dolls are
decorated and then set on fire as they are case into the ocean, taking
prayers with them. Designated as a nationally recognized cultural
ceremony, it is appreciated for its historical importance. There are many
festivals and ceremonies using the word nebuta.
Other theories about the origin of nebuta abound. Some say there’s a link to
the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto. It is interesting to note a similar festival took
place on the coast of the Sea of Japan, well known as a route traveled by
boats carrying people up and down the coast. Perhaps traditions surrounding
nature, illness traveled along with these boats. Living among significantly

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less material goods than the people of today, it is possible ideas and culture
flowed through Japan by word-of-mouth, nebuta among them.
Bibliography
i) www.japan-guide.com/
ii) japan-web-magazine.com
iii) blog.gaijinpot.com/festivals-of-japan-aomori-
nebuta-matsuri/

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