The Lantern Festival, or the Kanto Festival (竿燈祭）(Kanto-matsuri) , is held on August 3-6 in Akita City. It has a long history associated with prayers for a bountiful harvest of rice.
The shape of the whole Kanto can be compared to that of the ear of rice, all together 46 lanterns, imitating the straw bags of rice, swing at the slightest move, in the form of an abundanat crop of rice.
The highlight of this festival is a parade of stout young men in colorful attire skillfully balancing "kanto" on their shoulders, foreheads, hips and chins without their hands. They compete with each other to demonstrate skillful balancing techniques to the accompaniment of fast-beating drums and high-pitched flutes.
Waves of prayers
lighted up ―
Lantern Festival
竿燈やみのりを祈る黄金波
Kanto ya minori o inoru kogane nami
Performers
spotlighted ―
Lantern Festival
竿燈や妙技に光る差し手衆
Kanto ya myougi ni hikaru sasite shuu
― Hidenori Hiruta
Beautiful.
返信削除i have seen on TV bits of this wonderful festival; enjoyed the haiku pair
返信削除much love
gillena
delightful hidenori san
返信削除