Akita Kanto Festival秋田竿燈まつり

Akita's summer observance in which performers balance towering bamboo poles hung with lanterns on their palms, foreheads, shoulders and hips; the whole pole is likened to an ear of rice, in prayer for an abundant harvest.

On the nights of August 3 to 6 each year, kanto poles rise along Kanto Odori Avenue in Akita City. To the sound of flute and drum, each performer shifts a single pole from palm to forehead, shoulder and hip, holding aloft a sheaf of light swaying against the night sky. By day, performers compete in the skills tournament at Area Nakaichi.

According to Akita City, kanto is one form of nemuri-nagashi, the rite of casting off summer drowsiness: the Tanabata custom of parading bamboo hung with lanterns and paper strips before setting them on the river merged with the Bon custom of raising tall lanterns to welcome ancestral spirits, and with prayers for a good harvest, to take shape in the mid-Edo period. The festival's official site notes that a travel account of 1789 already describes it as a custom unique to Akita. "Akita no Kanto" was designated a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on January 28, 1980.

Source: 秋田市(external site, opens in a new tab) / 秋田市竿燈まつり実行委員会(external site, opens in a new tab)

The whole kanto is seen as an ear of rice and its lanterns as bales of rice, and the observance has been handed down as a prayer for an abundant harvest. Poles come in four sizes — ōwaka, chūwaka, kowaka and yōwaka; according to the official site, the largest ōwaka is 12 metres long, weighs 50 kilograms and carries 46 lanterns. The performers' techniques include nagashi, hirate (palm), hitai (forehead), kata (shoulder) and koshi (hip). The preservation body is the Akita City Kanto Association.

Source: 秋田市竿燈まつり実行委員会(external site, opens in a new tab) / 公益財団法人秋田観光コンベンション協会(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 01

   Night kanto performances

   Kanto poles line Kanto Odori Avenue and perform together to the festival music.

2. 02

   Daytime kanto skills competition

   Performers compete in technique at the Area Nakaichi plaza.

3. 03

   The five techniques

   The pole is handled through five techniques: nagashi, palm, forehead, shoulder and hip.

Carried by the sashite (pole performers) and musicians; the preservation body is the Akita City Kanto Association.

• Akita Kanto Festival令和7年度　秋田竿燈まつり

• Akita Kanto Festival国重要無形民俗文化財　秋田竿燈まつり

We only include videos confirmed on each organisation's official site or channel, and whose embedding YouTube permits. Playback uses YouTube's official player; copyright remains with the rights holders. The YouTube player does not load until you press play.

Performance times, seating and the daytime competition schedule are announced each year on the official site; check the latest information before visiting.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — kantou.gr.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Kanto poles can topple; watch from the designated areas and follow the stewards' directions.
• Avoid flash photography or shouting that could distract the performers.

• National designation · 1980

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Akita no Kanto（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 県内の国・県指定等文化財一覧（民俗 無形民俗文化財）- 秋田県(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 1.秋田竿燈まつり 公式サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)秋田市竿燈まつり実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.竿燈まつりについて(external site, opens in a new tab)秋田市竿燈まつり実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.2026年秋田竿燈まつりスケジュール(external site, opens in a new tab)秋田市竿燈まつり実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.秋田市の民俗芸能について｜秋田市公式サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)秋田市 · Accessed 2026-09-26
5. 5.県内の国・県指定等文化財一覧（民俗 無形民俗文化財）(external site, opens in a new tab)秋田県 · Accessed 2026-09-26
6. 6.夏を彩る光の稲穂「秋田竿燈まつり」｜アキタッチ＋(external site, opens in a new tab)公益財団法人秋田観光コンベンション協会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
7. 7.Akita (city) - Wikipedia(external site, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · Accessed 2026-09-26

• 

  Dozens of lantern-laden kanto poles bending over the crowd on Akita's Kanto Odori avenue at night

  Photographer

  https://search.find47.jp/ja/i/unXp4

  Source

  Akita kanto matsuri xl.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A towering kanto pole of glowing lanterns rising into a deep blue dusk sky above the crowd

  Photographer

  掬茶

  Source

  Akita Kanto Festival 2023a.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A performer balancing a massive kanto pole in daylight at the daytime skills contest

  Photographer

  秋田市

  Source

  Kan h03.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  Several lantern-covered kanto poles swaying against the night sky between city buildings

  Photographer

  掬茶

  Source

  Akita Kanto Festival 2023c.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)