Visited 19.05.2016 (Thu)
Background. Neburi nagashi ねぶり流し means washing away the sleepiness. In the olden days, this ceremony was carried out by washing away the dirt and evil spirits, believed to be stuck onto one’s body, in the river and carrying lit paper lanterns hung up high on poles at night. Neburi nagashi refers to the ritual of showering seven times with water to get rid of sleep as it was said that evil spirits could possess one’s body while sleeping.
Olden days. In the later half of Edo Period, people started carrying long bamboo poles decorated with many paper lanterns called Neburi nagashi lanterns. The festival evolved over the years and Neburi nagashi was called Kanto 竿灯 (which means pole lantern) since 1881. Now known as Akita Kanto Festival 秋田竿灯祭り, it is one of the main festivals celebrated in Tohoku region during the summer period.
Skillful. Akita City Traditional Performing Arts Heritage Hall opened to the public in 1992 with the aim of preserving and promoting cultural heritage unique to Akita Prefecture. The regular displays occupy the exhibition halls located on the first and second floor of the building. The first floor is dedicated to the Kanto Festival where tall bamboo poles decorated with numerous lanterns are put up for display. There are manikins dressed in the traditional costumes demonstrating various ways of supporting this heavy bamboo pole structure, which can weigh up to 50 kg, using different parts of the body during the parade (such as the shoulder, forehead, lower backs and even on the bare palm).
Background. Neburi nagashi ねぶり流し means washing away the sleepiness. In the olden days, this ceremony was carried out by washing away the dirt and evil spirits, believed to be stuck onto one’s body, in the river and carrying lit paper lanterns hung up high on poles at night. Neburi nagashi refers to the ritual of showering seven times with water to get rid of sleep as it was said that evil spirits could possess one’s body while sleeping.
Olden days. In the later half of Edo Period, people started carrying long bamboo poles decorated with many paper lanterns called Neburi nagashi lanterns. The festival evolved over the years and Neburi nagashi was called Kanto 竿灯 (which means pole lantern) since 1881. Now known as Akita Kanto Festival 秋田竿灯祭り, it is one of the main festivals celebrated in Tohoku region during the summer period.
Skillful. Akita City Traditional Performing Arts Heritage Hall opened to the public in 1992 with the aim of preserving and promoting cultural heritage unique to Akita Prefecture. The regular displays occupy the exhibition halls located on the first and second floor of the building. The first floor is dedicated to the Kanto Festival where tall bamboo poles decorated with numerous lanterns are put up for display. There are manikins dressed in the traditional costumes demonstrating various ways of supporting this heavy bamboo pole structure, which can weigh up to 50 kg, using different parts of the body during the parade (such as the shoulder, forehead, lower backs and even on the bare palm).
Preserve. Hard to imagine how this daunting feat is carried out on the actual day? Stay put here to watch the precious video footage, continuously being played from the screen theater, explaining how Kanto Festival has evolved over several decades as well as screening of snippets of the parade captured during the actual festival held between 3 - 7 August every year. Apart from being impressed by their physical endurance and skillfulness displayed in supporting these mega structures, I was also deeply touched by their determination to pass down the spirit of Kanto Festival from one generation to another; to carefully preserve this tradition that the locals of Akita Prefecture take pride in. For visitors who are unable / not planning to participate in the actual festival, live demonstration is held at 1.30 pm on weekends and public holidays between April to October for visitors to come up close to the performers and even experience supporting a Kanto.
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Neburi Nagashi kan 秋田市民俗芸能伝承館 ねぶり流し館, Akita Kanto Festival Center 秋田竿燈まつりセンター
〒010-0921 秋田市大町一丁目3番30号
Operating hours: 0930 - 1630 hrs
Admission fee = 100 yen
https://www.city.akita.lg.jp/kanko/kanrenshisetsu/1003644/index.html
Tip: There is a combined ticket available for two places of interest, Neburi Nagashi kan ねぶり流し館 and Akarenga kan Museum 赤れんが郷土館 which cost 250 yen. The admission fee to Akarenga kan Museum is 200 yen, therefore the combined ticket is a 50 yen discount off the overall admission fee to both places of interest, if the tickets are bought separately.
How to get there?
(1) By foot. 15 mins walk from Akita JR Station West Exit / Nishi Guchi 秋田駅西口.
(2) By bus. Board Akita City Center Loop Bus Gururu 秋田市中心市街地循環バス from Akita JR Station West Exit Platform 10 and alight at Neburi Nagashi kan mae ねぶり流し館前. 100 yen per trip.
https://www.city.akita.lg.jp/kurashi/kotsu/1012207/1007651.html
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| Introduction to other traditional cultural festivals celebrated by the locals of Akita Prefecture. |
Neburi Nagashi kan 秋田市民俗芸能伝承館 ねぶり流し館, Akita Kanto Festival Center 秋田竿燈まつりセンター
〒010-0921 秋田市大町一丁目3番30号
Operating hours: 0930 - 1630 hrs
Admission fee = 100 yen
https://www.city.akita.lg.jp/kanko/kanrenshisetsu/1003644/index.html
Tip: There is a combined ticket available for two places of interest, Neburi Nagashi kan ねぶり流し館 and Akarenga kan Museum 赤れんが郷土館 which cost 250 yen. The admission fee to Akarenga kan Museum is 200 yen, therefore the combined ticket is a 50 yen discount off the overall admission fee to both places of interest, if the tickets are bought separately.
How to get there?
(1) By foot. 15 mins walk from Akita JR Station West Exit / Nishi Guchi 秋田駅西口.
(2) By bus. Board Akita City Center Loop Bus Gururu 秋田市中心市街地循環バス from Akita JR Station West Exit Platform 10 and alight at Neburi Nagashi kan mae ねぶり流し館前. 100 yen per trip.
https://www.city.akita.lg.jp/kurashi/kotsu/1012207/1007651.html
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