What is Natsu Matsuri? Summer Events Then and Now

Summer days in Japan, especially in big cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, are truly hot. In spite of the scorching heat, many unique and exciting things in Japan are waiting for you to experience them during the summer. You can try a lot, from seasonal cuisine to interesting activities in Japanese summer. One of Japan’s favorite outdoor activities that we can’t forget to mention is definitely “natsu matsuri”.

So what is natsu matsuri? Check out this article to find out what it is and even more amazing things about it. 

What Is Natsu Matsuri?

When translated into English, “natsu” (夏) is summer and “matsuri” (祭 り) is festival, so natsu matsuri can be understood as a summer festival. However, more than the translated meaning, this term refers to various sorts of festivals occurring in regions all across Japan during summer. Some of these festivals are some of Japan’s most famous festivals every year. 

Usually, natsu matsuri events are held between July and August. However, in the case of some September events (in July under the lunar calendar), Japanese people also celebrate them as summer festivals. Either way, did you know that every natsu matsuri has its own meaning and purpose? Let’s learn more about the origin of these summer festivals and see what natsu matsuri is in the eyes of Japanese people. 

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Origin Of Natsu Matsuri

In the old days, ancient Japanese people organized natsu matsuri for three main reasons. Let’s explore each reason.

Pray for Bountiful Harvests

Far different from the current culture of Japan where only 4% of Japanese people join the field of agriculture, more than 80% of people in Japan did farming jobs in the past. Indeed, agriculture played a very crucial role in ancient Japanese life and conception because it directly affected the survival of contemporary farmers. In other words, without a good crop, it would get really tough for a lot of the community.

To protect crops as well as pray for a bountiful harvest, many festivals are held in summer. For example, in the early summer, the rustic and simple festival “Dengaku” was held during the rice planting season. On top of that, the summer festival named “Mushi Okuri”, which means repelling insects, was also popular in the past. 

Worship and Honor Spirits and Gods

Ancient Japanese people always believed that natural disasters in summer, like floods or droughts, came from the rage of vengeful ghosts or spirits belonging to ancient Japanese royalty. So, several natsu matsuri have taken place annually up to now, such as the famous Tenjin festival and the Bon festival, in order to calm down angry spirits and souls or to even to help them move on. 

Preventing Disease

In Heian-kyo (former name of the ancient capital Kyoto), due to a high population in such a small area as well as ineffective sewage drainage, epidemics often occurred during the summer.

However, similar to the cause of natural disasters, the ancient Japanese also assumed that those diseases were caused by evil spirits. As a ritual ceremony to satisfy these spirits, the Gion festival, one of the most famous festivals in Japan, has been held since the beginning of the 9th century.

Today’s Natsu Matsuri

Nowadays, most summer festivals are organized in Japan for multiple reasons besides the traditional Japanese reasonings. Actually, today’s natsu matsuri is a chance for Japanese people to hang out with family and friends, relieve stress from work, or even make new friends. Even better, natsu matsuri are also used as events to attract foreign visitors and promote Japanese tourism while showing off the local culture. 

Like we mentioned before, they happen all over Japan at different times, and no two festivals are completely the same. The Gion Festival we mentioned earlier has different versions depending on the area, with the Kyoto one being the most famous. One festival may feature beautiful traditional dances by the sea, while the next town over may show off traditional Japanese floats. The variety is truly amazing.

While joining natsu matsuri, you’ll easily find plenty of amusing activities. Many Japanese summer festivals end with fireworks, so you can enjoy Japanese fireworks festivals all across the country. There are also plenty of stalls where you can play traditional Japanese festival games. Of course, how can we not mention the yatai (Japanese food stalls) where you can enjoy tasty Japanese street food and snacks?, 

We hope you found the answer to some of your natsu matsuri questions and eve more interesting information about it! Do you have anything like a summer festival in your area? Let us know in the comments below!