August 2-7
Nebuta Matsuri, the main festival of Aomori Prefecture in Japan, features processions of
huge, elaborately painted papier-mache figures called nebuta .
The festival supposedly originated when Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro (758-811) was sent
here to put down a rebellion.
He won by raising dummy soldiers along the skyline, making the enemy think his army
was bigger than it was.
Today in the capital city of Aomori, the nebuta figures, up to 49 feet wide and 26 feet
high, depict ferociously scowling samurai warriors.
Illuminated from within by candles, they glow as they are carried through the streets at
nightfall.
Spectators wear hats made of flowers and dance in the streets.
A similar but smaller festival is held in Hirosaki Aug. 1-7.
Here, the nebuta are fan-shaped and depict warriors on one side and beautiful women
on the other.
Full story:
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Nebuta+Matsuri
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