2013 CLAIR FORUM

Located in the Northern Hemisphere, Japan is now in the height of summer.

Many people may associate summers in Japan with intense heat and humidity that can be difficult to endure. Compared to Australia and New Zealand, Japan’s summer climate is generally hotter and more humid, which may not always feel as comfortable.

However, there’s so much to enjoy in Japan during the summer that you will soon forget all about the heat and humidity. Every year, vibrant festivals, energetic traditional celebrations, and spectacular fireworks displays are held across the country.

These events provide the perfect opportunity to experience the history and culture of each region, as well as the unique atmosphere of a Japanese summer.

In this article, I would like to introduce several memorable summer events that I discovered while living in different regions of Japan.

Akita Kanto Festival: Illuminating Akita’s Summer Night Skies

Located in Japan’s northern Tohoku region, Akita Prefecture is home to a traditional summer festival known as the Akita Kanto Festival, which has been celebrated for approximately 270 years.

Every year from 3 to 6 August, the streets of central Akita City are transformed after sunset as around 280 giant bamboo poles, known as kanto, fill the streets, each adorned with rows of illuminated lanterns.

Source: Akita Kanto Festival Official Site

The kanto are designed to resemble heavy stalks of rice bending under the weight of abundant grains, symbolising a bountiful harvest.

The largest poles stand up to 12 metres tall, weigh around 50 kilograms, and carry approximately 50 lanterns.

Performers, known as sashite, demonstrate extraordinary skill by balancing these towering poles on their palms, foreheads, shoulders, and hips while praying for a bountiful harvest.

The sight of nearly 10,000 golden lanterns glowing against the summer night sky is truly breathtaking, and the entire venue comes alive with energy and excitement.

Nishimonai Bon Odori: One of Japan’s Three Great Bon Dances

Also in Akita, the town of Ugo hosts the Nishimonai Bon Odori from 16 to 18 August each year.

This traditional event is said to have a history spanning more than 700 years and is regarded as one of Japan’s Three Great Bon Dances.

From dusk into the evening, dancers dressed in beautiful patchwork kimono perform graceful and elegant movements while concealing their faces with woven hats or black hoods. Unlike the lively atmosphere of typical festivals, the Nishimonai Bon Odori has a mysterious and enchanting quality. Illuminated by bonfires, the dancers seem to emerge from the darkness, creating a captivating spectacle that leaves a lasting impression on all who watch.

Source: Ugomachi Town Office

 Omagari Hanabi: A Gathering Place for Fireworks Enthusiasts from Across Japan

Another highlight of Akita’s summer is the National Fireworks Competition known as Omagari Hanabi, held annually on the final Saturday of August.

Widely regarded as one of Japan’s premier fireworks events, it features spectacular displays by some of the country’s finest pyrotechnicians, selected from across the nation, who captivate the enormous crowds that gather at the venue each year. Watching the fireworks burst overhead while hearing the thunderous sound echo throughout the venue is truly an unforgettable and powerful experience.

One more unique feature of Omagari Hanabi is its daytime fireworks show, which allow spectators to enjoy colourful smoke patterns and their changing forms in the sky, something rarely seen elsewhere.

The grand finale consists of approximately 2,500 fireworks launched over about 6 minutes, synchronised with music and based on a different theme or concept each year. For me, the end of Omagari Hanabi was always when I truly felt that summer was drawing to a close.

Source: Omagari Hanabi Official Site

 Abare Festival: Japan’s Wildest Festival

 In Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, the Abare Festival is held annually on the first Friday and Saturday of July and is one of Japan’s most unique festivals.

With a history believed to span around 350 years, this festival is held to ward off illness and pray for the prosperity of the local community. Around 40 giant lantern floats, known as kiriko, each standing approximately 7 metres tall, parade through the town. At night, they gather in the central square and make their way around enormous bonfires.

It is believed that those who are showered by sparks from the bonfires will receive blessings.

Source: Abare Festival Official Site

As a result, the Kiriko bearers strive to bring their floats as close to the flames as possible and circle them repeatedly in search of good fortune.

The festival reaches its dramatic finale when two mikoshi (portable shrines) are thrown into the sea, rivers, and even fires, or slammed onto the ground until they are almost completely destroyed.

This extraordinary ritual stems from the belief that such acts please the deities residing within the mikoshi and allows people to deepen their connection to them.

The Abare Festival is an energetic celebration where, amid its wild and powerful displays, visitors can experience the deep-rooted history, culture, and pride of the local community.

The Magic of Japanese Summer

Many people may hesitate to visit Japan during the summer. However, as highlighted above, this season offers unique events and experiences that can only be enjoyed at this time of year. Through these festivals and celebrations, visitors can experience the distinct histories, cultures, and community spirit of different regions across Japan, making the opportunity to encounter these local traditions one of the greatest highlights of a Japanese summer.

If you have the chance to visit Japan during the summer, I highly encourage you to experience the festivals and fireworks events held across the country. They are sure to leave you with unforgettable memories that make you forget the heat and humidity, along with a deeper appreciation for the richness of Japanese culture that has been carefully preserved and passed down through generations.

No account of the history of nature conservation in Japan would be complete without mentioning the Japanese Crested Ibis, known as the toki in Japanese. It is widely regarded as one of Japan’s most symbolic birds, and its scientific name is Nipponia nippon.

The toki is a large waterbird measuring about 80 centimetres in length with a wingspan exceeding 130 centimetres.
Its plumage is mostly white in colour, and its appearance is somewhat reminiscent of the Australian White Ibis, a familiar sight in many Australian cities. The toki’s wings and tail feathers have a delicate pinkish hue, and watching it soar through the sky is truly a beautiful sight.

Historically, the species was found across Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan. In Japan, the toki once widely inhabited rural areas, wetlands, and other natural environments.
However, from the late nineteenth century to the twentieth century, its population declined rapidly due to overhunting for its feathers, agricultural expansion, and a reduction in food   sources caused by the widespread use of pesticides.

The habitats that once supported the toki were rich natural environments shared not only by the toki itself but also by a wide variety of other species.
For this reason, efforts to protect and breed the toki are still important not only from the perspective of conserving biodiversity, but also in terms of restoring the rich natural environments that once existed throughout Japan. Against this backdrop, Japan began full-scale conservation efforts for the toki around 1970.

A significant development came in 1981, when seven wild toki, previously believed to be extinct, were discovered in China. Conservation and breeding efforts soon began there as well, and in 1999, China presented Japan with a breeding pair of toki, which produced Japan’s first captive-bred chick.

Despite these efforts, the last wild-born toki in Japan died in 2003, marking the extinction of the country’s wild population.

However, Japan subsequently established successful captive-breeding techniques and the species also began breeding successfully in the wild in Sado, the last refuge of the species in Japan before its extinction in the wild. Today, the wild population has recovered to an estimated 500 or more individuals, and the toki can once again be seen flying freely, particularly over Sado.

Until recently, captive-bred toki had been released only in Sado. However, because the long-term survival of the species in Japan depends on having populations distributed across multiple regions rather than concentrated in a single area, release efforts have now been extended beyond Sado.

In May 2026, the first release of the toki outside Sado took place in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. Noto was the last place on the Japanese mainland where the toki survived in the wild until 1970. More than half a century later, many people in Japan have been deeply moved to see the toki flying once again over Noto.

Once lost from Japan’s skies, Nipponia nippon now flies there again, its beautiful, pink-tinted feathers catching the light. The return of a species once extinct in the wild stands as a testament to decades of dedicated conservation efforts. It also reminds us of the importance of preserving a world in which people and nature can coexist in harmony for future generations to come.

Photo sources:
 Ministry of the Environment, Japan
 Ishikawa Prefectural Government