During the summer festival season in Japan, we visited the Kansai region in 2017. One of the festivals we were able to attend was Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka.
Performances were a big part of the celebrations. From the umbrella dancers passing through shopping arcades to traditional drummers in temples, crowds gather around to share in the festive mood.
Well-wishers sounding bamboo clapboards in front of a businesses in the shopping arcade. I suppose this is similar to the lion dancing done in front of shops in China, where the idea is to bring fortune to the store in the future.
Boats with portable shrines and marchers sailing down the Yodo River, part of the flotilla that includes boats with noh and other performances.