Matsuri: The Heartbeat of Japan

Higashinada Danjiri involves a parade of decorated floats pulled by teams of veterans and ridden by young performers that lean out over the crowd - 32 districts take part with their own float.

Higashinada Danjiri involves a parade of decorated floats pulled by teams of veterans and ridden by young performers that lean out over the crowd - 32 districts take part with their own float.

Higashinada Danjiri involves a parade of decorated floats pulled by teams of veterans and ridden by young performers that lean out over the crowd - 32 districts take part with their own float.

Higashinada Danjiri involves a parade of decorated floats pulled by teams of veterans and ridden by young performers that lean out over the crowd - 32 districts take part with their own float.

At the Niihama Taiko Matsuri, teams of around 150 people carry taikodai (three-tonne parade floats housing a huge taiko drum) and compete to give the most powerful synchronised performance.

At the Niihama Taiko Matsuri, teams of around 150 people carry taikodai (three-tonne parade floats housing a huge taiko drum) and compete to give the most powerful synchronised performance.

At the Niihama Taiko Matsuri, teams of around 150 people carry taikodai (three-tonne parade floats housing a huge taiko drum) and compete to give the most powerful synchronised performance.

At the Niihama Taiko Matsuri, teams of around 150 people carry taikodai (three-tonne parade floats housing a huge taiko drum) and compete to give the most powerful synchronised performance.

Gojinjo Taiko is a wild and powerful performance by masked drummers - it originated 400 years ago when villagers disguised themselves as oni (demons) to scare away a warlord's army.

Gojinjo Taiko is a wild and powerful performance by masked drummers - it originated 400 years ago when villagers disguised themselves as oni (demons) to scare away a warlord's army.

Gojinjo Taiko is a wild and powerful performance by masked drummers - it originated 400 years ago when villagers disguised themselves as oni (demons) to scare away a warlord's army.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance - Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces, including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth, as children present the same pieces.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance - Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces, including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth, as children present the same pieces.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance - Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces, including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth, as children present the same pieces.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance - Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces, including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth, as children present the same pieces.