TheĀ Aomori Nebuta MatsuriĀ (éę£®ćć¶ćē„, “Aomori Nebuta Festival” or simply “Aomori Nebuta”)Ā is aĀ Japanese summer festivalĀ that takes place inĀ Aomori,Ā Aomori Prefecture,Ā JapanĀ in early August. The festival attracts the most tourists of any of the country’s nebuta festivals, and is counted among the three largest festivals in theĀ TÅhoku region. It was designated anĀ Important Intangible Folk Cultural PropertyĀ in 1980, and as one of theĀ 100 Soundscapes of JapanĀ by theĀ Ministry of the EnvironmentĀ in 1996.
“Nebuta” refers to theĀ floatĀ of a brave warrior-figure which is carried through the center of the city, while dancers wearing a unique type of costume calledĀ hanetoĀ (ććć)Ā dance around in time with the chantĀ RasserÄĀ (ć©ćć»ć©ć¼)Ā (shortened dialectal version of “irasshai”, calling visitors and customers to watch or join).Ā
The festival originated from the flutes andĀ taikoĀ futureĀ shÅgunĀ Sakanoue no TamuramaroĀ used to attract the attention of the enemy during a battle inĀ Mutsu Province.Ā