Summer River Festivals

These are events that celebrate the beginning of the cool breeze from the river that cools things down in summertime and also serve as water god festivals (MizuGami) for the provision of water victims and prayers for water disaster prevention. They take place from the beginning of July to the beginning of August for various rivers. Among them, the opening of the Sumida River between Ryogoku and Asakusa in Tokyo is very famous (the Asakusa Fireworks Festival). Since the mid-Edo period, elaborate fireworks displays have become popular, and many people come from all over to see them.

References

In English

https://visitmiyagi.com/events_festivals/ishinomaki-kawabiraki-festival/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumidagawa_Fireworks_Festival

In Japanese

https://kotobank.jp/word/川開き-48345

http://www.kawabiraki.com/

Photo thanks to thr.mlit.go.jp.

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