Akita Kanto Festival: Japan’s Masterful Lantern Balancing Spectacle | Traditional Night Celebrations
#141 10/14
pocket cinema #087
The Akita Kanto Festival is a traditional Japanese summer festival held annually in Akita City, typically in early August. It is famous for the unique and impressive feat of balancing long bamboo poles (called “kanto”) adorned with paper lanterns on various parts of the body, such as the palm, forehead, shoulder, and lower back. Each kanto can weigh up to 50 kilograms and reach heights of up to 12 meters.
Participants, known as “sashite,” skillfully balance these heavy lantern poles while parading through the streets, creating a mesmerizing spectacle as hundreds of lanterns sway gracefully in the night. The festival symbolizes prayers for a good harvest and is accompanied by lively traditional music and cheering crowds. The Akita Kanto Festival is renowned for showcasing the strength, skill, and precision of its performers, making it a captivating and culturally rich experience.
camera: Blackmagic Pocket cinema camera 6k
lens: sigma art 18-35 mm