[Summary] 300th anniversary! Feel the spirit of Tsugaru at the Hirosaki Neputa Festival
The Hirosaki Neputa Festival is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. Held every year from August 1st to 7th, this summer festival features around 80 magnificent neputa (floats) of all sizes, depicting warriors from stories such as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Suikoden, parading through the castle town of Hirosaki.
Hirosaki Neputa Festival 2022
| Event period | ： | August 1st (Monday) to August 7th (Sunday), 2022 August 1st to 4th: Dotemachi Course 19:00~ August 5-6: Station Course 19:00~ August 7th: Dotemachi Course 10:00~ (morning only) |
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| web | ： | https://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/edit.html?id=cat02_summer_neputa |
Hirosaki Neputa 300th Anniversary Festival
| Event period | ： | Saturday, August 27th to Sunday, August 28th, 2022 27th (Sat): Night service 28th (Sun): Daytime service |
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| web | ： | https://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/edit.html?id=neputa300 |
There are two types of Neputa: the giant fan-shaped "Ogi Neputa" and the three-dimensional doll-shaped "Kumi Neputa". Some of the Neputa are as large as 9 meters. The "Kagami-e" (mirror painting) on the front features a picture of a heroic warrior, while the "Miouri-e" (side-off painting) on the back features a picture of a bewitching beauty, and the contrast between the front and back is also one of the attractions.
The first written record of the Neputa was exactly 300 years ago, in 1722. There is an entry in the Hirosaki Domain Office Gokoku Nikki (Diary of the Country of the Hirosaki Domain) that the fifth lord of the Tsugaru Domain, Tsugaru Nobuhisa, viewed the Neputa.
There are various theories about the origin of "Neputa," but one theory is that it originated from "Neburi Nagashi," an event in which farmers would float lanterns aloft to prevent themselves from becoming sleepy while working in the fields in the summer.
The name "Neputa" is said to come from the Tsugaru dialect "nepute" (sleepy), and the reason it is called "Nebuta" in Aomori City is due to a difference in the dialect.
During the Edo period, Tsugaru was an area ruled by the Hirosaki Domain, a vast territory that included the present-day cities of Hirosaki, Goshogawara, and Aomori. The culture of Hirosaki, where the domain's castle was located, is said to be the roots of Tsugaru culture.
Tsugaru's climate is characterized by short summers and long winters. The people of Tsugaru still have a strong attachment to Neputa, enduring the long, harsh winters with the support of Neputa.
[Interview] The appeal of the Hirosaki Neputa Festival
The charm of the Hirosaki Neputa Festival can only be fully understood by experiencing the passionate spirit of the Tsugaru people. We spoke to two people who have a special attachment to the festival.
To pass on the Hirosaki Neputa and Tsugaru culture to the next generation
Interview with Kazuhiro Hiyama
Mr. Kazuhiro Hiyama, Deputy Mayor of Tsugaru Neputa Village
After graduating from high school, he had a strong desire to work with his beloved Neputa, so he got a job at Tsugaru Neputa Village. 31 years have passed since then, and he is still actively spreading the joy and culture of Neputa to many people. He is an Aomori Prefecture Traditional Craftsman and a certified Hirosaki Meister.
Hiyama-san: "This is the first time the festival has been held in three years, so I hope many people will come and see it. To enjoy Hirosaki Neputa even more, be sure to visit our museum before the festival!"
Tsugaru Han Neputa Village, where Hiyama works, is a place where you can experience all the charm of Tsugaru, with opportunities to experience live Neputa music and Tsugaru shamisen performances, folk craft experiences such as painting goldfish Neputa, as well as a Japanese garden created using gardening techniques unique to the Tsugaru region and a facility utilizing the clan's 300-year-old rice storehouse.
Hiyama-san: "Our museum is not just a place for people to look at exhibits. Our goal is to help visitors learn about the history and culture of Neputa while enjoying the festival atmosphere through explanations by our staff and music performances."
One of the elements that livens up the festival is the drums. The constant beating of the drums, mixed with the shouts of "Yaya-yado", creates a powerful moment.
Hiyama-san: "At Neputa Village, you can try your hand at beating the drums after the music demonstration. You'll get the thrill of beating a big drum with a long stick, and experience what it's like to be a musician."
Hiyama says, "We consider ourselves lucky to be able to witness this milestone 300 years, and we feel a responsibility to preserve Hirosaki's culture and history so that this 300th anniversary festival can be passed on to the next 400 years. We hope that people will take this opportunity to visit Hirosaki and experience Neputa and its roots."
Hiyama-san joined the museum because he loves Neputa and wanted to be involved in it for a long time. He is passionate about Tsugaru culture as well as Neputa. He currently holds the title of Aomori Prefecture Traditional Craftsman of Kingyo Neputa. As a member of the Tsugaru culture, I felt his strong desire to pass it on to the next generation.
The passionate assembly of Neputa represents the spirit of a Neputa fanatic!
Interview with Fumitaka Kawashima
Mr. Fumitaka Kawashima, Chairman of the Hirosaki Neputa Allies Association
Since participating in the Neputa Festival for the first time as a child, he has taken it for granted that Neputa floats are close to him in his daily life. Since then, he has gained experience in various Neputa groups, and 22 years ago, he started his own Neputa group, Meiyukai. He is a director of the Hirosaki Neputa Participating Groups Council.
Kawashima: "The highlight of the Neputa Festival is definitely the 'procession.' The procession, which is made up of the lanterns, the Neputa floats, the music troupe, etc., is actually slightly different for each group. If you listen closely, you'll also hear differences in the rhythm of the drums. If you pay attention to these details, you'll be able to enjoy the festival without getting bored."
Kawashima-san from the Neputa group "Meiyu-kai". Currently, there are about 80 Neputa groups, some of which have been running for 40 years. Meiyu-kai is celebrating its 22nd year since it was founded this year. "The most fun thing is welcoming summer with all the 'Neputa fanatics' who love Neputa," he said.
Kawashima: "As this is the year of the 300th anniversary, I decided to go back to my roots and choose the "Legend of Momiji," a story that was often chosen as a subject in the past, in which Taira no Koremochi fights and defeats the demon woman Momiji."
Now that fan-shaped Neputa have become mainstream, Meiyukai is committed to group Neputa (doll-shaped). They create each one through trial and error, from the body parts and their movements to the facial expressions.
Kawashima-san: "When there are a lot of fan-shaped floats, the festival is sometimes described as looking like a 'Kintaro candy', but the doll-shaped floats are a whole different kind of sight! I definitely recommend you to come and see them!"
Kawashima says, "Aomori has a variety of summer festivals, but the Neputa in Hirosaki evokes the image of samurai quietly setting out on their march, and offers a different atmosphere to the others. Just watching the colorful floats parade by in their respective processions is moving."
"Neputa is my life itself," says Kawashima. Be sure to check out the Neputa group of Meiyukai, which is filled with her love and dedication to Neputa.
[Recommended] Enjoy the Hirosaki Neputa Festival even more
From here, we will interview the organizing committee for tips on how to enjoy the Hirosaki Neputa Festival even more. We will introduce the highlights of the festival as well as information on nearby spots that you should also enjoy during this occasion.
Part 1: Photo spot
Waiting area for the "Station Course"
The Station Course (August 5-6, 2022) has a large number of participants, and the sight of the Neputa lined up in several rows is spectacular. Around 6:30 p.m., just before the parade begins, the Neputa begin to be lit up, creating a different look from the daytime.
"Goldfish Neputa" decorated all over the city
In conjunction with the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, various places in the city are decorated with hand-held Neputa, including goldfish Neputa. At night, the goldfish Neputa along the river, lit up with light, are a popular photo spot.
Part 2: Hirosaki Neputa 300th Anniversary Festival x Hatsune Miku
The Hirosaki Neputa 300th Anniversary Festival will feature Hatsune Miku as its official support character. In addition to collaboration posters, welcome boards, and welcome announcements, there will also be interactive events such as a Neputa quiz.
"Hirosaki Neputa 300th Anniversary Festival x Hatsune Miku" collaboration special page
Part 3: Places to visit during the Hirosaki Neputa Festival
Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village
The first is the "Tsugaru Neputa Village," which was mentioned in the interview. You can experience all of Tsugaru culture in four categories: "seeing/listening," "experience," "shopping," and "eating." Inside the museum, the "Hirosaki Neputa Museum" displays a large 10mm-tall neputa, as well as a life-sized neputa where you can see the internal structure. At the Tsugaru Warehouse Workshop "Takumi," you can experience and see handicrafts such as Tsugaru kites and Tsugaru lacquerware.
In addition to an antenna shop selling processed agricultural, forestry and fishery products, souvenirs and handicrafts from the prefecture, there is also a direct sales store for apples and vegetables from JA Tsugaru Hirosaki, and a hand-baked rice cracker shop where you can enjoy demonstrations by craftsmen. At the adjacent Umamai-ya, you can enjoy fluffy rice made from Aomori-grown rice, cooked in a stone hearth and a three-sho iron pot, as well as regional cuisine made with local ingredients.
Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village
| address | ： | 61 Kikkocho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture |
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| phone | ： | 0172-39-1511 |
| web | ： | http://neputamura.com/ |
Fujita Memorial Garden
Hirosaki City, the castle town of the Tsugaru Domain, was an early adopter of Christianity, inviting foreign teachers to the city with the aim of making Hirosaki an academic city after the Meiji period, and unique Western-style buildings were built along with the wave of modernization. Western-style architecture, such as pointed-roofed buildings and brick churches that blend into the castle town's streetscape, will transport you to a nostalgic world that transcends 100 years of time.
The Fujita Memorial Garden is home to a Western-style building designated as a registered tangible cultural property that still retains the appearance of the time. It was built in 1921 as a villa by Hirosaki native and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry founder Kenichi Fujita, and offers a view of the elevated garden with Mt. Iwaki as a backdrop.
The adjacent "Taisho Romantic Tea Room" is popular for its apple pie made with apples, a specialty of Hirosaki. It is a space where you can enjoy a leisurely tea time while thinking about the romance of the Taisho era. Please enjoy the taste and culture that is unique to Hirosaki.
Fujita Memorial Garden
| address | ： | 8-1 Kamishirogincho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture |
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| phone | ： | 0172-37-5525 |
Passing on the lights of Tsugaru to the future
The Hirosaki Neputa Festival has been cherished by the people of Tsugaru and is deeply rooted in their daily lives. The Tsugaru temperament is called "Joppari," which means "stubbornness." This year too, you can feel the Joppari spirit in the sound of the drums, the shouts of "Yaya-yado," and the brave Neputa procession.
"Hirosaki Neputa" is full of eternal romance. Why not join the people of Tsugaru in enjoying the hot summer that marks the 300th anniversary of the festival?
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
