These festival red floats appear on October once a year during the Kawagoe festival.
There are twenty nine festival floats, each of which have own sahpe.
During this festival children beat a drum loudly and girls and adults dance wearing masks of things such as raccoon dog, fox and clown.
Head fireman leads a march and adults pull the floats.
More than million people go to see this festival.
It is a day when people living in the center of Kawagoe and many tourists get together.
Tracing it back through history, the Kawagoe city suffered from a conflagration in 1638 and the most of the town was burnt down.
During the reconstruction, the lord of the castle began to this festival in 1648.
I think this lord of the castle would encourage people who had become depressed.
Since that year this festival has continued for more than three hundred years.
Fortunately this year the festival will be held as usual.
People living in Kawagoe city will be able to pass this festival to next generation and they will be encouraged by this festival.
Life in Kawagoe 
Good to know that the festival is on this year. 🙂
The first photo is cool! Do you have a close up on the mask wearing guy there?
My daughters were frightened with these guys wearing a mask although we can shake hands with them.
Looks like a great festival, missed this one while I was living in Tokyo. Are many festivals being cancelled this year due to the earthquake?
I recommend this festival. I don’t know whether other festival will be held.
I guess that most of the festival will be held in Kanto area.
nice to have you as correspondent from Japan!
I’m glad that someone knows and enjoys Japan. I may become a tour guide.
a wonderful festival. the floats are interesting and full of characters. 🙂
Thanks. There are really many characters on the floats such as emperor, historical person and cultural figures.
動物のキャラクターは子供たちにも人気がありそうですね。お狸さんを主役として狙ったショット楽しげで素敵です。彼の手の表現が愉快(･ω･)b 今年も無事、開催予定で良かったですね。横浜は花火祭り、ﾊﾟﾚｰﾄﾞなどで、このような伝統的なお祭りが少なく残念です。
そういわれると、手も演技してますね。横浜は、洋風でお洒落な街並みがあったと思うので、こういう純和風ではない祭りのほうがあうかもしれません。。
狐や獅子舞もいたのですが、子どもは遠くから眺めてるだけでした。。
お嬢さんはお狸さんを怖がられたのですね。 なるほど、彼女にとって「狸面人」は 確かに怖いでしょうね。
This is wonderful that your city has its own festival that’s 300 years old! What is the significance of the animal masks?
I don’t know the accurate significance of the animal masks but I guess that the animal masks come from myths or folk stories about this region.
Perhaps grandparents in Kawagoe may know it.
I love the characters on the float and the red theater… What a wonderful thing to have especially for everyone to enjoy. 🙂
I think so.Everyone can enjoy this festival regardless of their age or background.
🙂
I love all the red colors everywhere. It has such a warm feeling. 🙂
Thank you for your comment. I don’t know why this color is used in this festival. These color give us energy.