Air base’s Japanese neighbors mark 75th Tanabata Festival with parades, food and celebratory vibes

A young girl participates in the folk dance parade.

A young girl participates in the folk dance parade at the three-day Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, Aug. 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)

Fussa, a western Tokyo suburb known for its American influence, celebrated its 75th annual Tanabata Festival over the weekend with its accustomed multicultural vibe.

Just outside the main gate of Yokota Air Base, the city’s 57,000 residents played host to more than 400,000 visitors Friday through Sunday on its main streets, which took on a block party atmosphere.

The Tanabata Matsuri celebrates the mythical meeting of two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented as two stars in the sky who are separated by the Milky Way and meet only once a year.

Streets west of Fussa Station were decorated with large bamboo poles draped with colorful strips of paper called tanzaku, and plastic streamers bearing handwritten wishes. And for every bamboo pole, there was a stall selling food, drink, and colorful toys.

The festival also features teams carrying mikoshi, or portable shrines, including one carried by Yokota airmen, and a parade of folk dancers. Each procession began at the west exit of Fussa train station and ended a half mile away.

The Fussa city mascot made from balloons hangs over the city’s main street.

The Fussa city mascot fashioned from balloons hangs over the city’s main street at the start of the 75th annual Tanabata Festival, Aug. 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)

Festival goers jam the streets of Fussa, Japan.

Festival goers jam the streets of Fussa, Japan, for the final night of the Tanabata Festival, Aug. 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)

Food vendors pose for a portrait.

Food vendors pose for a portrait on the final night of the annual Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, Aug. 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)

Festival goers in traditional Japanese yukata walk through streamers and paper strips at the Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, Aug. 8, 2025.

Festival goers in traditional Japanese yukata walk through streamers and paper strips at the Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, Aug. 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)

A street vendor grills food.

A street vendor grills food as the 75th annual, three-day Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, winds down Aug. 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)

Folk dances with Japanese lanterns move through the streets.

The folk dance parade proceeds along it’s half-mile long route Friday evening as Fussa, Japan, begins its three-day Tanabata Festival Aug. 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)