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The Sansa Odori parade is the biggest festival in Iwate Prefecture. (© Haga Library)
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The parade leaders practice for two months to perfect their dance. (© Haga Library)
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Mitsuishi Shrine, the oldest in the city, is known for the “devil’s handprint” legend and as the origin of the prefecture name Iwate (literally rock-hand). (© Haga Library)
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A grand parade celebrated the Guinness World Records award. (© Haga Library)
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The Izaku Taiko Odori is Japan’s most grueling drum festival. (© Haga Library)
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Assistants help the drummers into their costumes. (© Haga Library)
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The young participants keep time to the beat. (© Haga Library)
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In pouring rain or searing heat, the drummers keep on dancing. (© Haga Library)
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The dancers keep vigorously drumming and dancing right to the end. (© Haga Library)
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The first day’s highlight is dynamic drumming. The second day features a parade of elaborately decorated floats. (© Haga Library)
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In the drum procession, bearers carry the huge drum, with two men astride and two others pounding out the matsuri rhythm. (© Haga Library)
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Men scramble over each other to approach the okoshidaiko. (© Haga Library)
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Festival participants perform an acrobatic “dragonfly” pose. (© Haga Library)
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The second day features a stately procession of gorgeous floats belonging to the city’s various neighborhoods. Karakuri mechanical puppet plays and children’s kabuki are also performed during the festival. (© Haga Library)
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