Kanto Matsuri

What to know

The Kanto Matsuri (竿燈まつり, "pole lantern festival") is a Tanabata-related celebration in Akita City, held annually from August 3 to 6. The highlight is an impressive display of skill where performers balance kanto (long bamboo poles) with arrays of paper lanterns attached to the end. Along with Aomori's Nebuta Festival and Sendai's Tanabata, it forms the three great festivals of the Tohoku Region.

The kanto poles come in various sizes; the largest measures 12 meters, weighs 50 kilograms, and carries up to 46 paper lanterns lit by real candles. To the sound of drums, flutes, and onlookers chanting "dokkoisho, dokkoisho," each pole is hoisted by a single performer who balances it using various techniques. Performers change every few minutes and gradually add extensions until the poles reach their maximum height.

The main event, the night parades, takes place nightly along Kanto Odori street in the city center. Performing groups carrying over 250 kanto poles line up on the street. At a signal, all poles are raised simultaneously, and performers show off their skills. The event lasts about 90 minutes, ending with a 15-minute session where the audience can talk to performers, take photos, and try hoisting a kanto.

The performing area is nearly one kilometer long, with plenty of sidewalk seating along the route. The ends of the closed road offer a particularly spectacular view but can be more crowded. Paid reserved seats are set up on the median of the road; reservations can be made a few months in advance on the official Japanese website. Naturally, it is more crowded on festival days that fall on a weekend.

Daytime events are mainly held at Agora Plaza in front of the Seibu Department Store from 10:00 to 17:00 on all festival days. Visitors can participate in lifting miniature kanto poles.

Additionally, Kanto Competitions are held during the daytime on the last three days of the festival at the plaza around the Akita Museum of Art. Each kanto group fields one or two teams to compete in categories such as solo, group, and performance set to music. The competitions are free to attend with no seating provided.