Iwaki Tanabata Festival
いわき七夕まつり
"Enjoy the Iwaki Tanabata Festival, a traditional festival with a history of nearly 100 years!"
- Seyoung Park
"Enjoy the Iwaki Tanabata Festival, a traditional festival with a history of nearly 100 years!"
- Seyoung Park
(kankou-iwaki, n.d.)
(kankou-iwaki, n.d.)
The Iwaki Tanabata Festival is a traditional event that has continued since the early Showa period and was renamed from "Taira Tanabata Festival" to its current name in 2019. The Iwaki Tanabata Festival originated in the early 1930s when elaborate decorations by local businesses, such as the 77 Bank and Nanba Clinic, gained popularity. In 1934, it evolved into a town-wide event to replace a traditional ritual that was cancelled due to road modernization. Although the festival was suspended in 1938 due to World War II, it was successfully revived in 1948 despite post-war shortages, introducing decoration competitions to mark its return.
By the mid-20th century, the festival had become more luxurious with various contests, and in 2006, the "Iwaki Odori" dance event was added to the festivities. Notably, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the community—including evacuees from nuclear-affected areas—came together to hold the festival despite the crisis, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Event Period: Every Year August 6th ~ 8th, 10:00 to 21:00
The venue of the event: Iwaki Station Daira Shopping Street
Address: 〒 970-8026 In Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
Organization: Iwaki Tanabata Festival Executive Committee
(kankou-iwaki, n.d.)
(kankou-iwaki, n.d.)
Streets with elaborate bamboo decorations are created by local shopping districts. Various exciting events are held at multiple locations throughout the festival
Main events
6th: "Iwaki Tanabata Festival Dance Evening" - featuring local traditional performing arts groups
7th: "Taira Bon Odori" (Bon Dancing) - around a festival tower (yagura) - open for everyone to join
8th: Grand Finale: "Iwaki Odori" (Dancing) - Perfect chance to wear a yukata and enjoy the authentic summer vibe!
In Korea, Tanabata is commonly known through the folktale 'The Herdsman and the Weaver.' However, unlike in Japan, it is recognized as a day on which rituals are performed within religious traditions such as Buddhism and Shamanistic faith. It is impressive that the festivals held for Tanabata vary by region in Japan. At the Iwaki Tanabata Festival, local residents actively engage in everything from organizing the festival to participating in it. Enjoy the Iwaki Tanabata Festival, a traditional festival with a history of nearly 100 years!
In the flatland of Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture