Akita Kanto – Pole Lantern Festival

The Akita Kanto Matsuri, or the Pole Lantern Festival, is one of the three great summer celebrations of Japan’s Tohoku region. Held annually in early August, this spectacle involves hundreds of towering bamboo poles (kanto) adorned with up to 46 paper lanterns. These impressive structures, which can weigh up to 50 kg, are said to represent bags of rice, and the festival’s purpose is a good-natured yet formal ritual to pray for a successful and abundant autumn harvest.

The festival’s major attraction is the breathtaking display of the sashite (performers) as they demonstrate incredible feats of balance. With shouts of “Dokkoisho!” (meaning Ready!), a single sashite will shift the massive pole from their palm to their forehead, then to their shoulder, and finally to their hip, all while the golden lanterns sway precariously overhead. Beyond the dramatic main night parades, you can also catch the competitive daytime events or join the crowds afterwards for the chance to try balancing a miniature kanto pole yourself!