As one of the three major festivals in Tohoku, the cool and comfortable temperature, the boiling celebration, accompanied by the taste of the sea and the aroma of apples, completely release the summer magic of Aomori.

Aomori Sandman Festival is a representative summer festival in Aomori City, and it is also well-known in festivals around Japan, attracting many tourists. The main character of the celebration is a huge lantern figure 9 meters wide, 7 meters deep and 5 meters high, which is called "the Sandman." Most of them are made from the theme of Warring States military generals, historical stories, and a scene of Kabuki. They are colorful and powerful works of art. The lantern figures took about 300 people, led by Sandman, three months to make.

The Sandman Festival starts from August 2 to 7 every year. Most of the huge lanterns in these parades have a story theme, usually some historical allusions and Japanese legend gods, such as the stories of The Three Kingdoms of China and Zhong Kui, which are loved by Japan. Therefore, it is not difficult for Chinese tourists to understand the shapes expressed.

Every year from August 2 to 7, there are about 15 children's "Sandman", about 20 large "Sandman", a total of about 30 "Sandman" to participate in the parade, so that people's emotional "Sandman accompaniment music", dancing to dance to "dancing people" constitute a gorgeous team, in Aomori city parade route. About 11,000 fireworks will be fired on the final day, and the six winning Sandmen will also go on a sea cruise.

The origin of the Sandman festival in Aomori

As for the origin of the Aomori Sandman Festival, it is said that it evolved from the Tanabata Festival, but it is not conclusive. One theory is that the Chinese "Qixi Festival" was integrated with Tsuyoshi customs and festivals, and with the popularity of paper, bamboo, and candles, lanterns were formed, and then lanterns evolved into sleepers.

The Sandman is made by the town, and the parade is held every year, and it is passed down. Nowadays, the lanterns have become bigger and more elaborate.

What's a Sandman?

The makers of large sandmen are called "Sandmen". The Sandman is an expert in sandman, and it is up to the Sandman to decide the draft, overall structure, color, etc. Every year, after Sandman Day, Sandman begins to think about the next year's Sandman, and during the winter to draw Sandman design drawings.

He began to make detailed parts such as the face, hands and feet. In May, he made the whole frame from wood and wire at Sandman's Hut. Also install light bulbs inside the sandman and paste Japanese paper on the wire frame.

After pasting the Japanese paper, they begin to paint the shape with ink, then wax painting (melting the wax to draw patterns, etc.), and then paint with a pen or sprayer to complete the main body of the Sandman.

What is "jumping"?

Those who dance merrily in line to the shouts of "rassera, rassera" are called "jumpers." Anyone can take part in the parade by wearing a jumping costume. This is part of the charm of the Sandman Festival in Aomori. Last summer, I experienced Aomori Sandman Festival in depth, and I can miss it with every summer.

The charm of the Sandman Festival in Aomori, perhaps like the cider there, lies in the aroma after the experience. In the dark night sky, the colorful lights are also clearly visible, accompanied by the melodious "Ra-Se-Ra! "The slogan, and the crowd dancing with the momentum of the sky, beauty, roughness, style, are condensed here in the magic of summer night,