The Hirosaki Neputa festival celebrates the short summer in northern Japan.

Enormous floats called "neputa" parade through the streets.

They showcase vibrant images with historical themes.

The front presents striking mythic imagery, and huge pictures of people.

The other side often features beautiful women and other elegant motifs.

Drums, bells, flutes and unique calls sound through the parade.

Some floats feature wire-frame 3D figures.

Lights inside bring a world of fantasy to life.

This 300-year-old tradition began as a way to banish drowsiness during the heat of summer,

and keep people focused on farm work.

Hirosaki is in Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost region of Japan's largest main island.

Matsuri preparations begin months in advance.

Local groups put together the floats.

The largest can be up to eight meters tall.

Construction equipment is needed to paper them.

Most of the floats get new art every year.

Some people specialize in neputa pictures.

Miura Donryu has been doing this for fifty years.

He completes an eighty square-meter painting all by himself.

Some shy away from blood and guts,
but Hirosaki folks are different.

For us, that imagery is stylish.

You don't get up-close fight
scenes in traditional Japanese art.

For our Neputa, warriors
take center stage.

So I focus on a dynamic,
dramatic style.

The key is the ink drawing.

People have very different styles,
the thickness of the lines and so on.

80% of the work is in the ink sketch.

Wax contributes to the clarity of the images.

As it resists ink and paint, it keeps areas of color apart.

When lit from inside, the painting will glow.

It took Miura two weeks to paint his picture.

It is a prayer for freedom from disease,

and for the continued success of a local shopping street.

Now that we have the art in place,
the excitement will start to grow.

It's going to build
in a big crescendo.

And that will add to
the fun for everyone.

Wire and wood are used for the frame.

It's completely handmade.

It takes a lot of skill to assemble the wire frame.

But anyone can help add the paper.

Children often take part too.

"I did that part!"
Or "I pasted that bit!"

Working on the floats makes the
whole thing twice as exciting for kids.

Childhood memories keep
people involved as adults.

We're looking to the future.

Neputa workshops are held all over Hirosaki.

This class teaches how to make a lantern shaped like a goldfish.

It's a tradition that can be traced back centuries to a Hirosaki ruler who loved goldfish.

The red of the fish
is a lucky color.

It wards off evil and disease.

I did it!

It's really neat!

Here, people are learning to play festival tunes on a flute.

We're there to play music,
not show off!

The festival music is a vital
part of the whole event.

Hirosaki folks hear
this music in the womb.

They know the rhythm from
the moment they're born.

I want to master the flute
and play in the Neputa!

It stirs us up.

I hear the rehearsal and
think: Ah, Neputa's coming!

I think that's true for
most folks around here.

It's been a long 3 years!

It's finally back after
a very long break.

I'm a little tense.
Feeling stirred up!

After two cancellations because of the pandemic, the matsuri is back.

The streets are lined with locals and visitors from all over Japan.

An enormous taiko drum, the pride of this region, heads the parade.

The parade will go on for two hours.

Here is Miura Donryu's neputa.

This wire and paper figure makes a stunning visual impact.

Some floats use candles as a light source, instead of electricity.

The softer glow creates a different impact.

This is a Ground Self-Defense Force team.

Their sword dancing is very popular.

This time, 46 groups took part, 20% fewer than before the pandemic.

But the passion and energy runs as high as ever.

Many children are involved, parading with smaller Neputa floats.

I want my kids, the next
generation to keep this going.

It's about passing on
traditional culture.

I hope that what we do generates
excitement for everyone in Hirosaki.