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Traditional Awaodori dancers, they always wear those pointy straw hats

A closer look

Dancers

Drummers

Having a chat while waiting for the parade to start

Parade in progress

Kids join in the fun

You forgot to smile

The parade is not just for the young

Lots of people line up the shopping street to wait for the parade to come

Women wear pretty kimonos in the matsuri

Many men wear split-toe shoes in the parade

Drums play a big role in matsuri

Parade

Shy dancer

Everybody has a good time

These dancers are mostly made up of older women

Bamboo flutes are part of the musical instruments used in the matsuri

Kids lead the way for the next group of dancers

A serious-looking performer

Big drums

House burglars in the old times covered their faces like this guy does. Nowadays they have masks

Drummers

Kid dancers

Another group of Awaodori dancers

He posed for me when he saw me take his picture

You can always find yukata-wearing women among the spectators in a matsuri. Unlike the adult version which is full-length, kids' yukata is sometimes knee-length like this girl's

Pink lady

This girl's full-length yukata is very colorful

Another kid in yukata and wooden sandals

McDonald's join in the fun. The Japanese characters on the laterns say "McDonald's"

McDonald's staff in yukata selling their food on the street to join the festivity of the matsuri