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Yash Aggrawal

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.

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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
- 1 - 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 T¨­hoku 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
- 2 - History of Nebuta Matsuri Involves the etymology of the word Nebuta . Aterui , a general from the T¨­hoku 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 T¨­hoku 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 "¸ùÉw" 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
- 3 - 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 sh¨­gun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro used to attract the attention of the enemy during a battle in Mutsu Province. The Tamuramaro Sh¨­ (Tamuramaro Prize) was created around this explanation in 1962 to be awarded to the festival's best group participant (later renamed to the Nebuta Taish¨­). 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
- 4 - 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.
- 5 - 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
- 6 - 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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Japanese project

  • 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
  • 2. - 1 - 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 T¨­hoku 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
  • 3. - 2 - History of Nebuta Matsuri Involves the etymology of the word Nebuta . Aterui , a general from the T¨­hoku 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 T¨­hoku 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 "¸ùÉw" 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
  • 4. - 3 - 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 sh¨­gun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro used to attract the attention of the enemy during a battle in Mutsu Province. The Tamuramaro Sh¨­ (Tamuramaro Prize) was created around this explanation in 1962 to be awarded to the festival's best group participant (later renamed to the Nebuta Taish¨­). 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
  • 5. - 4 - 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.
  • 6. - 5 - 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
  • 7. - 6 - 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/