🎎 Asaka City Citizen Festival - Saiyakamatsuri

When mentioning Asaka City, one cannot help but think of the local summer scenery poem "Colorful Summer Festival" (彩夏祭). This is a festival initiated by the citizens, aimed at enhancing community cohesion and rekindling the increasingly distant intimate relationships among people through promoting interaction among citizens. The festival is held in early August each year and lasts for three days. The main venues are located at "Asaka Venue" (朝霞会場) and "North Asaka Venue" (北朝霞会場), featuring various exciting activities such as a commerce and industry festival and traditional Japanese taiko performances. One of the highlights is the "Kansai Hachishuu YOSAKOI Festival" (関八州YOSAKOI祭). This is the first Naruko dance festival held in Honshu in 1994, following the "YOSAKOI Festival" in Kochi and the "YOSAKOI Soran Festival" in Hokkaido. About 6,000 dancers perform while playing instruments called "Naruko," dancing to the melody of the "YOSAKOI Festival." The passionate and dynamic performances immerse the audience in a joyful atmosphere. Another major highlight is the "Fireworks Launch" event held on the second day. With up to 9,000 fireworks launched every hour, it is usually difficult to enjoy such large-scale fireworks in the city. The dazzling lights in the night sky, accompanied by the sounds of fireworks, create an unforgettable experience.

The festival, filled with local love, is initiated by the citizens of Asaka City. The Kanbayashi YOSAKOI Festival features around 6,000 dancers who perform while striking a traditional instrument called naruko. Every hour, 9,000 fireworks are launched. Various activities can be enjoyed at two uniquely themed venues.