Tomorrow it is about to start: Hakata Dontaku Festival (博多どんたく祭り)

With nearly two million visitors attracting on 3rd and 4th May every year, it is one of Japan’s largest carnivals.
The word Dontaku derives from the Dutch word “Zondag“, which means Sunday. The origins are assumed dating back to the Heian Period, long time before the Dutch even came to Japan.

It is a huge international parade where you will see women playing the Shamisen (三味線), wearing Yukata (浴衣) a light style Kimono and performing a traditional dance by clacking Shamoji (しゃもじ). Shamoji is a wooden spoon usually used for scooping rice, yet it can also function as a musical instrument.^^

Don’t miss it!