In recent weeks, matsuri have kicked off all over Japan, from small-scale gatherings in local neighborhoods to city-wide processions that last for weeks, restoring an important piece of Japan’s urban fabric.
Photographer: Soichiro Koriyama/BloombergJapan's Summer Festivals Are Finally Back
Matsuri are an important distraction from the summer’s sweltering heat, but are also crucial for community-building by bringing people together.
Months after Japan officially started to dismantle the last of its Covid restrictions, perhaps the biggest marker that normal life has resumed is the return of its summer festivals.
In recent weeks, matsuri have kicked off all over the country, from small-scale gatherings in local neighborhoods to city-wide processions that last for weeks, restoring an important piece of Japan’s urban fabric. Some are returning for the first time since the pandemic, while others will take place on a fully fledged scale once again after being scaled back.