Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Festival

Aomori people were indeed powerful in Nebuta Matsuri Festival!
I felt a sort of Japanese soul there. :D

The moment we arrived in Aomori, we saw many people wearing colourful festival costumes.

By the way, what's Nebuta...?
We got this festival brochure.

Nebuta Festival brochure 2014

According to this brochure, Nebuta is...

It is said that the Aomori Nebuta Festival originated from Tourou Nagashi (Floating lanterns on a river) which is a ritual event in many nationwide Japanese festivals, Tanabata Matsuri (Festival of the Weaver). For floating lanterns we put a candle inside a wooden frame wrapped in Japanese paper. The lit candle illuminates the doll when it is released into a river or the sea. It is believed that this will drive away evil spirits and bring good luck and good health. In Aomori, lanterns built in the shape of figures inspired by legends or history became the prevalent form, whereas in Hiroaki a fan-shaped lanterns (known as Nebuta) Prevailed. At one time (Meiji era, 1868-1912), people used wood or bamboo to make the frame of the paper dolls and used a wax candle for light, but eventually they changed to wire and electricity. The lanterns of today have become bigger and much more detailed.

Here's wiki about Nebuta.

Anyway, it was stunning great festival I've never seen before!

From tourists' seats

Nebuta 

There were a lot of Nebuta coming one after another for almost 2 hours!

"Hayashi" festival music is another important part of Nebuta festival.

"Hayashi" usually consists of "Fue" (flutes) and "Taiko" (drums).

Wiki is here.

I took a video of Nebuta followed by "Hayashi" festival music troops. :)

And also, we can't miss "Naneto" (jumping dancers) in Nebuta festival.

Haneto

Their energetic jumping dance makes people dance with them, with "Rassera~, Rassera~!".

I also took a video of "Haneko".

We really had a great time in Aomori Nebuta Matsuri festival!