Random picture thread for Friday

Once Again it is Festival Time in Japan - Highlighting Aomori Japan's Famed Nebuta Festival

In the video below, First the beat of Taiko Drums are heard as the drum corps leads. Then dressed in festival garb the dancers appear only to be followed by a Nebuta float of massive size and skilled construction.

The Nebuta Festival bus-sized floats are among the most spectacular in Japan and their builders work a full year designing and constructing them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPdc68bRgc

On the final night of Japan’s celebrated Nebuta Festival held in Aomori Japan, fireworks explode over the bay to herald the arrival of the lighted Nebuta floats as they are transported across the water.

Watch below as the Japan sky lights up with exploding aerials only to be followed by a Nebuta float spectacularly lit up against the night sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imyz_IYysgY

Aomori Japan’s Heralded Nebuta Festival is brought to a spectacular conclusion with a fireworks display over its bay.

Watch below here as the fireworks finale celebrates an end to the multi day festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2VH6sojDoI

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Writing of Japanese Festivals in the Edo Period of the 1700's, the foreign observer Engelbert Kaempler wrote, "The happiness of the celebration and the wishes of good luck are intended to distract the kami or gods, and to avoid bad luck. Since properly speaking they are not there for the worship of the gods but to generate festive joy, they are acceptable to all religions and sects."