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Kanto Matsuri
2008.08.03
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An example of the "Kanto". These are bamboo structures with lanterns hung off the rungs. The Kanto represents the head of the rice stalk as this festival is to hope for a good rice harvest.
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An example of the "Kanto". These are bamboo structures with lanterns hung off the rungs. The Kanto represents the head of the rice stalk as this festival is to hope for a good rice harvest.
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Walking the Kanto to the performance area.
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Walking the Kanto to the performance area.
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One of the many Taiko drums that shake the whole area. They were all played by girls at this festival. While the kanto were all held by men or boys...
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One of the many Taiko drums that shake the whole area. They were all played by girls at this festival. While the kanto were all held by men or boys...
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"Omikoshi" portable shinto shrine.
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"Omikoshi" portable shinto shrine.
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This is the very top of one of the kantos.
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This is the very top of one of the kantos.
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My pictures can do this girl justice. She was an impressive drummer.
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My pictures can do this girl justice. She was an impressive drummer.
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The men lift the kanto (weighing up to 60 kg) straight up in the air and try to balance it on their hands, shoulders, foreheads, and hips.
PS. It is windy. Look at the curvature in the pole!
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The men lift the kanto (weighing up to 60 kg) straight up in the air and try to balance it on their hands, shoulders, foreheads, and hips.
PS. It is windy. Look at the curvature in the pole!
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Hundreds of these groups are performing all at once up and down about a km of one of the large streets in town.
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Hundreds of these groups are performing all at once up and down about a km of one of the large streets in town.
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Try to imagine the large kanto above this guy sitting on his shoulder.
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Try to imagine the large kanto above this guy sitting on his shoulder.
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They had kids sized ones too.
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They had kids sized ones too.
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Here they are adding an extension pole onto the bottom of the kanto.
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Here they are adding an extension pole onto the bottom of the kanto.
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Of course, sometimes they loose their balance. Well actually quite often. I would guess that there are many minor injuries associated with this festival.
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Of course, sometimes they loose their balance. Well actually quite often. I would guess that there are many minor injuries associated with this festival.
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Rain rain go away. I heard that sometimes when they fall the candles will light the lanterns on fire. I think the rain kept this from happening on this night.
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Rain rain go away. I heard that sometimes when they fall the candles will light the lanterns on fire. I think the rain kept this from happening on this night.
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We took a bus tour to the Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori and Kanto Matsuri in Akita. The kanto are poles with lanterns hanging from them that are symbolic of the head of a rice plant. The men in the festival lift the kanto and balance them on their palms, shoulders, foreheads, and lower backs. Sometimes the kanto fall over, and a few were even broken during the festival. The women and children march in the parade and play drums and bamboo flutes.
