Hachinohe Sansha Tasai Festival

The Hachinohe Sansha Tasai Festival lasts for five days in the beginning of August; 27 large floats gather to parade in front of City Hall. There are four basic types of floats. 1) Rock Type (Iwa-dashi): carries rocks that are decorated with trees and is presented with a waterfall pouring down between them. 2) Wave Type (Nami-dashi): features a ship surrounded by sea waves. 3) House Type (Tatemono-dashi): mounted with a big gate or castle. 4) Parapet Type (Koran-dashi): surrounded by red parapets (wall-like barrier on a roof) with the rear portion raised higher and decorated with flowers. Opening and closing festivities on the first and last day start at 18:00 and processions during the three middle days start at 15:00.

On our way home from the Hachinohe Tanabata Festival, we stumbled upon a group preparing a Sansha Tasai float. These things are huge and stand at least two stories tall. Sometimes documenting the work in progress is more impressive than the finished product. Judging from the red, this one looks like it might be house type or parapet type float.

Temporary tents house construction

Oni (Demon)

Detail of claw

Last minute preparations

Taiko Drum

Saturday, July 31: Hachinohe Sansha Tasai Festival

It was another family outing and an afternoon bracing parade crowds, not with one, but two strollers! Saturday kicked off the start of the five day festival. It was raining in the morning and we hoped it would stay away in the afternoon. Thankfully it remained overcast, but the humidity continued making us sweaty.

These parade floats were amazing. I knew they were supposed to be large, but it was remarkable to see how they expanded. Much like an RV, the sides of the floats pulled away from the center and generators hoisted platforms higher. The first night of the festival is sort of a debut of the floats. Unlike other parades where floats travel down streets, on the first night, these mammoth beauties remained stationery and onlookers promenaded to get a glimpse of each float. Subsequent festival parade days include tiger dances, lion dances, Shinto shrine maidens, and samurai processions. Because the sidewalks and streets were packed, we were only able to walk two city blocks with the kids in tow. Kyle was so gracious enough to pause and watch both children while I darted through crowds to take photos.

Float in closed position

Another float in closed position

This wave-type float (in closed position) was my favorite

Backside of wave-type float (in expanded form)

Notice how the pink coral is now three stories high

Front side of wave-type float (in expanded form)

Detail of wave-type float

This float contained numerous sea creatures and merpeople

House-type float

Children playing taiko in unison

Notice even their sticks are at the same height

Not sure which of the four categories this one belongs

Detail and drums

Detail of back of float

This is the float I saw being constructed

Front of float with steam emitted

This is the float I saw being constructed

19:00 ... Knackered Children ... a sign it's time to go home

Japanese thought it was cute that my kids could sleep

through all the drumming and music

Life B.C. (before children): 7Pm was spent

getting ready to go out on the town