2022 Rewind: Japan's traditional festivals return for 1st time in 3 yrs after COVID break

The year 2022 saw an array of traditional Japanese festivals and events returning to local streets and communities across the country for the first time in three years after a coronavirus hiatus, to the joy of residents and tourists alike who yearned for their revival following repeated cancellations or downsizing in 2020 and 2021. Check out these 22 articles, some accompanying photo specials and videos, and immerse yourselves in the extravaganza of festivities once more.

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<<Giant Nebuta Festival floats hit Aomori streets in northern Japan for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

AOMORI -- Giant floats paraded in this northern Japan city on Aug. 2, the first day of Aomori Nebuta Festival, which was held for the first time in three years after a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full story and photo special.

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<<Samurai horsemen's race, flag battle held for 1st time in 3 yrs in Fukushima Pref.>>

MINAMISOMA, Fukushima -- A race and flag battle involving samurai horsemen were held in eastern Japan's Fukushima Prefecture on July 24 for the first time in three years, after a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, as part of the traditional Soma Nomaoi festival. Full story.

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<<140,000 attend elaborate 'yamahoko' float parade held in Kyoto for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

KYOTO -- A parade of 23 "yamahoko" floats, collectively dubbed a "moving museum" for their elaborate decoration, attracted some 140,000 onlookers when it was held in central Kyoto for the first time in three years after a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full story and photo special.

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<<Mud gods in Okinawa festival scare children to bring them good luck>>

MIYAKOJIMA, Okinawa -- A traditional festival where men dress up as muddy supernatural creatures in a bid to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck to residents was held here on Oct. 5 for the first time in three years. Full story.

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<<Colorful procession reenacts Kumano Kodo pilgrimage in west Japan for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

TANABE, Wakayama -- People wearing vibrant-colored costumes and straw hats paraded along the famous Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes on Nov. 3, as they walked the same paths as past monks and other medieval figures did. Full story and photo special.

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<<Rings of fire light up the night at east Japan festival for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

NANMOKU, Gunma -- For the first time in three years, visitors to this eastern Japan village were treated to the spectacle of spinning rings of fire at an unusual festival held on the nights of Aug. 14 and 15. Full story.

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<<Traditional floats paraded in Fukuoka festival for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

FUKUOKA -- Colorfully decorated floats for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival were paraded here on July 13, the first time in three years the event had returned to the heart of this southwest Japan city after a COVID-19 pandemic hiatus. Full story and photo special.

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<<700-yr-old central Japan festival with ogres publicly staged for 1st time since 2019>>

TOEI, Aichi -- The Hana Matsuri, an ancient festival designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property, is being publicly staged here for the first time in three years following a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, enlivened by dancing ogres. Full story.

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<<Giant fireworks blossom in Osaka night sky after 3-yr COVID hiatus>>

OSAKA -- Large fireworks sparkled in the city of Osaka's night sky for the first time in three years on Aug. 27. Full story and photo special.

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<<Yabusame horse archery ritual gallops ahead at Kyoto shrine for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

KYOTO -- The "yabusame" mounted archery ritual was held at a shrine here in Japan's ancient capital on May 3 for the first time in three years. Full story and photo special.

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<<Japan Photo Journal: Giant paper lantern festival held in Aichi Pref.>>

The Mikawa Isshiki grand lantern festival was filled with a fantastic atmosphere on Aug. 27, 2022, as lanterns depicting historical picture scrolls were lit up at Suwajinja Shrine in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture. Full story.

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<<Full-scale festival with huge floats begins in Japan's Saga Pref. for 1st time in 3 yrs>>

KARATSU, Saga -- The full-scale Karatsu Kunchi festival kicked off here on the night of Nov. 2 for the first time in three years, with 14 imposing floats lighting up this southwest Japan city as an opener to the three-day event. Full story and photo special.

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<<Japan Photo Journal: Ehime holds spectacular drum float festival for 1st time in 3 years>>

A "taiko" drum float is carried by participants in the Niihama Taiko Festival, held for the first time in three years, in the city of Niihama in Ehime. The festival is one of the three largest in western Japan's Shikoku region. Full story.

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<<Nighttime summer festival, parade illuminate Japan's ancient capital Nara>>

NARA -- A nighttime summer festival was recently held at the World Heritage Nara Palace Site in this western Japan city, the country's ancient capital. Full story and photo special.

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<<Red-haired 'ogre' scares children to tears in west Japan festival>>

KUDOYAMA, Wakayama -- A unique festival featuring a red-haired "oni," or ogre, was held at a shrine in this west Japan town on Aug. 16, with the monstrous figure praying for blessings and good harvests while scaring young children to tears. Full story and photo special.

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<<Burning reed grass, fireworks light up shore of Japan's largest lake for 1st time in 5 yrs>>

KUSATSU, Shiga -- Giant "torches" made of common reed grass and fireworks enthralled spectators on the shore of the country's largest lake in this western Japan city on July 23, during a festival held for the first time in five years. Full story and photo special.

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<<Production of 'goldfish lanterns' peaks in west Japan city ahead of local summer festival>>

YANAI, Yamaguchi -- The production of traditional Japanese paper lanterns in the shape of goldfish is at its peak here ahead of a local summer festival, with people busily applying the finishing touches to the folk crafts. Full story.

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<<6,600 dancers take to streets in west Japan's Kochi for 1st Yosakoi Festival in 3 years>>

KOCHI -- Kochi Prefecture's signature Yosakoi Festival commenced on Aug. 10 for the first time in three years, with some 6,600 dancers from roughly 100 teams from the prefecture and other areas performing at 12 venues in the city of Kochi to create a lively summer mood. Full story and photo special.

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<<Japan Photo Journal: Traditional drums played for 1st time in 3 yrs at Gifu Pref. festival>>

Traditional "okoshi-daiko" drums were played for the first time in three years at the opening of the Furukawa Festival at Keta Wakamiya Shrine in the central Japan city of Hida, Gifu Prefecture, on April 19, 2022. Full story.

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<<Crowds flock to Hokkaido Shrine Festival to mark arrival of summer>>

SAPPORO -- The Hokkaido Shrine Festival, which heralds the arrival of summer in this northern Japan city, was recently held for the first time in three years, as four floats accompanied by some 1,200 people in traditional costumes paraded along the streets to the joy of huge crowds. Full story.

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<<Japan Photo Journal: 20,000 dancers perform in 1st Yosakoi festival in 3 years in Hokkaido>>

Dancers perform onstage on the first day of the 31st Yosakoi Soran Festival in Sapporo's Chuo Ward on June 8, 2022. Full story.

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<<Japan Photo Journal: Summer kimonos add color to Hiroshima festival>>

Paper lanterns are seen hanging during the Toukasan Grand Festival at Enryuji Temple in Hiroshima's Naka Ward on June 3, 2022. Full story.

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