Golden lanterns brighten Akita summer nights

The Akita Kanto Festival is one of the major festivals in the Tohoku region. It’s held to pray for a good harvest and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
Performers demonstrated a series of techniques to support bamboo poles decorated with dozens of paper lanterns using their foreheads, shoulders, and hips to balance. The largest structures are 12 meters tall and weigh up to 50 kilograms.