Journalism: Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival 2024
2024年日本青森县五所川原市立佞武多祭典
March 3rd, 2025 : Multimedia / Video Journalism
Introduction
In northern Japan lies a remarkable testament to human artistry and cultural preservation - the Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival. These colossal lantern floats, standing 23 meters tall and weighing 19 tons each, represent an fusion of traditional craftsmanship and community spirit. Each Tachineputa is a masterpiece of human ingenuity, entirely handcrafted through a meticulous year-long process of design, painting, and assembly. These paper lanterns depict mythological scenes.
What truly distinguishes this festival is the city's profound commitment to cultural preservation - the local government even undertook urban renovations, burying power lines underground, to ensure these towering floats could continue their traditional parade routes. Through the combined efforts of skilled artisans, dedicated local residents who manually pull these massive structures, and thoughtful governance, this once-fading tradition has been transformed into a vibrant celebration that captivates visitors from across Japan and beyond.
Role
Cinematographer, Editor, and Producer: Mia Zhu
Photographer & Designer: Mia Zhu
Journalist & Researcher: Mia Zhu
Journal
Aomori, located at the northernmost tip of Japan's main island, holds a week-long summer festival in early August to ward off 'Neputa' (sleep demons) that might interfere with farmers' summer work. During this week, each city in Aomori Prefecture showcases newly created lantern floats, each with distinct characteristics. Aomori's are human-shaped and flat (with large surface areas); Hirosaki's are fan-shaped; while Goshogawara's Tachineputa are the tallest and most impressive. Goshogawara consistently maintains three Tachineputa: the current year's new creation, last year's, and the previous year's, while dismantling the oldest one.
At Goshogawara's annual Tachineputa Festival, smaller and medium-sized floats lead the way, followed by three massive 23-meter-tall paper lantern floats. These lanterns are carried by people of all ages - children, youth, middle-aged, and elderly people - maintaining their tradition. The parade proceeds in an orderly fashion amid rhythmic chants. The 2024 theme features “Enma”, the Buddhist King of Hell, depicting the scene where he uses a mirror to reflect and judge the deeds of the deceased.
At Goshogawara's annual Tachineputa Festival, smaller and medium-sized floats lead the way, followed by three massive 23-meter-tall paper lantern floats. These lanterns are carried by people of all ages - children, youth, middle-aged, and elderly people - maintaining their tradition. The parade proceeds in an orderly fashion amid rhythmic chants. The 2024 theme features “Enma”, the Buddhist King of Hell, depicting the scene where he uses a mirror to reflect and judge the deeds of the deceased.
Tachineputa flourished due to Goshogawara‘s advantageous coastal trading position. The tradition had nearly vanished due to technological developments (new power lines made it difficult for tall floats to parade), war, post-war fires that destroyed design materials, the burst of the economic bubble, local economic decline, and aging population. However, in 1993, someone discovered their grandfather’s float base design drawings. By 1996, funding and technical support were secured, and volunteers reconstructed a Tachineputa. Following ancient custom, this float was burned a week after the ceremony as a tribute to precious memories (very anime-like scene!). In 1998, the city government completed the project of removing and burying power lines along the parade route. Since 1999, a new large Tachineputa has been created annually, while an old one is dismantled.
The local government's commitment to cultural preservation is evidenced by their extensive efforts to revive this traditional festival. It’s remarkable how such a small city efficiently advanced urban planning for the sake of cultural preservation, reclaiming this historical practice in just five years through government efforts and local support.
According to the website, the lastest three floats were designed and created by the same person, with a year-long design and production cycle. Tachineputa are built and stored in a museum. The official website reveals that visitors can typically participate in creating that year's Tachineputa. However, due to major renovations at the Tachineputa Museum in 2025, no new Neputa will be manufactured, so this year's festival will display last year's three floats, and both the participatory creation activities and regular museum visits will be suspended.
Reference
http://go-kankou.jp/tachine
http://go-kankou.jp/past
https://www.tachineputa.jp/index.php
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15378249