Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with dance and music in Japan. In Japan, festivals are called matsuri (祭り), and the origin of the word matsuri is related to the kami (神, Shinto deities), and there are theories that the word matsuri is derived from matsu (待つ) meaning "to wait (for the kami to descend)", tatematsuru (献る) meaning "to make offerings to the kami", and matsurau (奉う) meaning "to obey the kami".[1] The theory that it is derived from matsurau is the most popular.[2]

It is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 festivals across Japan,[3][4] generating an annual economic impact of 530 billion yen as of 2019.[4] As of 2024, 33 of these festivals have been registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists as "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan".[5] Various folk dances, costume processions, kagura, dengaku, bugaku, and noh performed at festivals are also registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.[6] For example, 41 folk dances including bon odori from various regions of Japan are registered as "Furyu-odori"[7] and 10 costume processions including namahage are registered as "Raihō-shin".[8]

Japanese festivals reflect the unique religious beliefs of the Japanese people, who worship onryō (怨霊, vengeful spirits) and violent kami, based on the background of Japan's frequent natural disasters. Based on the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, Japanese people worship not only the spirits that inhabit all things and the souls of their ancestors, but also terrifying onryō and violent kami that protect people from epidemics and natural disasters. For example, Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri (ja), and Kanda Matsuri, which are considered the three major festivals in Japan, worship the onryō of Gozu Tennō, Sugawara no Michizane, and Taira no Masakado, respectively, and pray for good health and protection from natural disasters. Since these festivals are held in urban areas, each attracts hundreds of thousands to over a million spectators each year.[9][10] On the other hand, Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri, and Jidai Matsuri are considered the three major festivals in Kyoto. Gion Matsuri attracts huge crowds to see the procession of huge dashi (山車, matsuri floats) and mikoshi (神輿, portable shrines), while Aoi Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri attract crowds to see the procession of people dressed in period costumes.[11]

The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and the Tokushima Awa Odori are large, historic festivals in local cities that attract more than 2 million visitors each year, and more than 1 million visitors each year, respectively.[12][13] According to a 2022 survey, they ranked first and second, respectively, in recognition in Japan, followed by the Gion Matsuri in third place.[14]

There are also many Japanese festivals in which the kami are prayed to for a good harvest of rice and other crops. In agricultural festivals, different ceremonies are held in each of the four seasons, and festivals are classified into different types, such as otaue-matsuri (御田植祭) and aki-matsuri (秋祭り), according to their significance. In general, festivals held in the spring pray for a good harvest for the year, festivals held in the summer pray for rice and crops to be free from pests and storm damage, festivals held in the fall give thanks for the harvest, and festivals held in the winter pray for a good harvest in the new year.[15]

Many secular and modern festivals are also held, with the Sapporo Snow Festival attracting 2.73 million visitors in 2019.[16]

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