The Akita Kanto Matsuri, held every year from August 3 to 6 in Akita City, is a mesmerizing ritual rooted in the Neburi Nagashi ceremony of the 1700s, meant to drive away midsummer sleepiness and pray for a bountiful harvest.
Kanto (竿燈) refers to a massive bamboo pole rigged with lanterns to resemble a heavy ear of rice. At this festival, the poles represent rice stalks and the lanterns represent grains. The largest poles, known as Owa, have 46 paper lanterns lit with real candles and can weigh up to 60 kg.
Kanto (竿燈) refers to a bamboo pole assembled to hang lanterns said to resemble an ear of rice. At this festival, the kanto and lanterns are thought of as grains of rice on a stalk and by carrying these, people pray for a good harvest. Each pole has 46 paper lanterns that are lit using candles and the total structure can weigh as much as 60 kg. The best part of being at the Kanto Matsuri is the Yoru-Kanto (night kanto). There is a moment of silence and everyone waits with baited breath to see the kanto rise up in the air.
The Magic of Yoru-Kanto (Night Performance)
The highlight of the festival is the Yoru-Kanto. There is a hushed moment of silence before over 280 poles—bearing more than 10,000 lanterns—are hoisted into the air simultaneously, illuminating the city streets in a golden glow.
As the taiko drums beat, you will hear the iconic chant
“Dokkoisho, dokkoisho, Dokkoishosho, dokkoisho, Oetasa, oetasa, Nekkotsuida, oetasa”
Source: Yasuhiro S. / flickr
Participants, known as sashite, display incredible balance by shifting the 60 kg poles from their hands to their foreheads, shoulders, and lower backs. You might see a pole tumble if the wind catches it, but the participants are lightning-fast at relighting candles and hoisting them back up!
Interactive and Daytime Events
At the end, there is an event called “Fureai Kanto” (interactive kanto), where you can hold an actual small-sized kanto or take pictures with a big kanto.
During the day, you can watch a competition called Kanto Myogikai, a day-time kanto, where people compete with varying techniques to balance the kanto freely using their hands, foreheads, backs, and even mouths or chins.
Schedule and Location
Day Time (Hiru Kanto)
August 4-5: 9:00 – 15:40; August 6: 9:20 – 15:00 Myogikai / Area Nakaichi Nigiwai Hiroba, close to the Akita Museum of Art
Night time (Yoru Kanto)
August 3 – 6: 19:25 – 20:35 Along Chuo Dori (street), a 15-min walk from Akita Station
Reserved seating: 3500 yen – 4500 yen
(But we suggest you go free style and walk along the 1-km road to get the most out of this festival) Official Website: http://www.kantou.gr.jp/index.htm
The Kanto Matsuri is synonymous with Akita Prefecture along with the Akita Shiba dog, so much so that you can even find it on manhole covers.
If you are visiting Japan in summer, keep these dates in mind and plan a trip to cover both the Kanto and the Nebuta Matsuri.
