By YUKIO ISHIKAWA/ Staff Writer
August 28, 2025 at 18:33 JST
Residents from Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, showcase their traditional Okuma Kabuto festival on Aug. 27 at the Osaka Kansai Expo as part of the “Ishikawa Day” program. (Reo Komeda)
OSAKA—In a powerful display of cultural pride and heartfelt gratitude, residents of the Noto Peninsula and the wider Ishikawa Prefecture brought their vibrant traditional festivals to the Osaka Kansai Expo on Aug. 27.
The event, part of “Ishikawa Day,” runs through Aug. 31 and highlights the region’s recovery and resilience following the devastating Noto Peninsula earthquake in January last year.
Around 1,000 performers from 20 Noto groups took part, expressing gratitude for support to disaster-hit areas and sharing community spirit through parades, music and dance.
One of the main attractions was the towering 16-meter, 4-ton float from the Iida Toroyama festival in Suzu.
Accompanied by characteristic chants, spectators joined locals from Suzu in pulling the massive float, which had been carefully transported 350 kilometers by a convoy of seven trucks.
Although the traditional float parade was canceled last year due to the earthquake, the festival made a comeback this summer, featuring a newly crafted figure of the iconic Ebisu deity adorning the float.
Takahiro Daimaru, 62, a festival organizer from Suzu’s Iida district, said the festivals are the most important events for the people of Noto.
“Even after the disaster, that hasn’t changed,” he said. “We hope visitors feel the power of our performance and are inspired to see Suzu with their own eyes.”
Among the attendees was Kumi Matsuda, 58, originally from Suzu but now living in Nagoya.
“It’s been 40 years since I last saw the festival,” she said with emotion. “Even after all this time, I remembered the chants.”
From neighboring Nanao, the Okuma Kabuto festival, a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, also captivated the crowd.
The breathtaking “Shimada Kuzushi” featured crimson flags tilted dramatically close to the ground in a display of skill and grace.
Other popular performances included drumming from Wajima, acrobatics from Kanazawa and dances from Kaga.
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