In May, the season Sendai becomes the most beautiful “City of Trees” with every zelkova tree in fresh greenery, one of historical festivals of Sendai, the “Sendai Aoba Festival,” is held to represent the exceptionally sophisticated aesthetics inherited from the DATE clan.
The eve of the festival is called “Yoi Matsuri” and has a vibrant atmosphere with many citizen groups dancing the gorgeous "Sendai Suzume Odori (sparrow dance)." The main day of the festival is known as “Hon Matsuri," where Mikoshi (portable miniature shrine) of Aoba-jinja Shrine enshrining Lord DATE Masumune, who laid the foundation of Sendai, and eleven tall, wheeled festival floats with ornaments called "Yamaboko" parade the streets as if in a magnificent historical picture scroll. This festival, coloring the City of Trees, Sendai, is familiar to people as an annual event which is representative of the city.
The Sendai Aoba Festival originates from the “Sendai Festival” which began in 1655, and was revived in 1985 after 350 years had passed since the death of Lord DATE Masamune.
The scale of festival has been expanded year by year as a community festival that everyone can participate in and enjoy. This is thanks to a folk performing art "Suzume Odori" arranged to be more easily danceable for everyone and introduced into the festival, after being passed down among the descendants of masons who were involved in establishing the Aoba Castle starting in 1600.
Today, nearly 20,000 citizens participate in the festival over two days, and it has almost 1 million visitors.
This festival is held every year on the third Sunday of May and the previous Saturday.
A flock of almost 5,000 dancers shows the vibrant "Suzume Odori" while jumping along to the festival music accompaniment at “Yoi Matsuri” on Saturday.
At night, Yamaboko are illuminated by lanterns and the city is surrounded by a dreamy atmosphere.
During the main festival “Hon Matsuri” held on Sunday, a fantastic parade extends for 2.4 km in length. It consists of mainly 6-meter-high Yamaboko, Mikoshi of Aoba-jinja Shrine dedicated to Lord DATE, his vassals in armor, and Suzume Odori. You will feel as if you are seeing a spectacular historical picture scroll.
The "Suzume Odori" is known broadly as a representative folk performing art of Sendai and performed in Japan and overseas at places such as Sao Paulo, New York, Rome, Milan, Delhi, Beijing, Taiwan, and South Korea. You can even jump in to participate on the day of the festival.
Yamaboko illuminated by lanterns parade on the bustling Jozenji-dori Avenue together with the Suzume Odori. Three Sendai Yoi Yamaboko are known as the “Hope for Recovery Yamaboko.” The ethereal procession is for repose of the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and serve as a “Beacon of Hope” to keep the memory of the disaster from fading away.
Yamaboko illuminated by lanterns parade on the bustling Jozenji-dori Avenue together with the Suzume Odori. Three Sendai Yoi Yamaboko are known as the “Hope for Recovery Yamaboko.” The ethereal procession is for repose of the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and serve as a “Beacon of Hope” to keep the memory of the disaster from fading away.
Vassals of the Sendai domain’s founder, Lord DATE Masamune, leap through time to gather together once again.
The spectacular march of brave warriors in armor and a gun squad is truly a historical picture scroll of the Warring States period come to life.
A magnificent eleven Yamaboko parade filled with wishes for the prosperity of Sendai and businesses, the safety of families and the perfect health of all. The historical pageant culminates when lively shouts of those pulling the 6-meter-high and 6-ton Yamaboko, mixed together with a stylish music accompaniment and brilliant Suzume Odori dance.
A magnificent eleven Yamaboko parade filled with wishes for the prosperity of Sendai and businesses, the safety of families and the perfect health of all. The historical pageant culminates when lively shouts of those pulling the 6-meter-high and 6-ton Yamaboko, mixed together with a stylish music accompaniment and brilliant Suzume Odori dance.
There are various celebrations on not only Jozenji-dori Avenue which has beautiful fresh greenery, but also at many other spots in downtown Sendai.
Please visit the Sendai Aoba Festival held in the breezy month of May, the most beautiful season of Sendai.
Your participation is more than welcome.
The festival will take place in the center of Sendai City.
20 minutes walk from JR Sendai Station
A short walk from Kotodai-koen Sabway Station on the Subway Nanboku Line
40 minutes by car from Sendai Airport
15 minutes by car from Sendai Miyagi IC
Please see the following website for further information on access to Sendai.
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