The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival was first held as an independent event in 1964 (following its debut within the Zao Summer Festival in 1963) and today is a major festival in Tohoku, attracting over one million visitors during its three-day run from August 5 to 7. The hanagasa (花笠) is a straw hat adorned with artificial red safflowers—the prefectural flower of Yamagata—and used by performers in their traditional dance. The parade, led by brightly decorated floats, consists of approximately 160 groups and 10,000 dancers moving down the main street to shouts of “Yassho! Makasho!”—originally the rhythmic calls of workers during irrigation and dirt-pounding work.
Traditionally, the dances were characterized by the smooth, synchronized movements of the Kunpu Mogamigawa style, but contemporary performances have become increasingly daring, including the vigorous Zao Gyoko male style and impressive “hat-spinning” techniques. The organizers emphasize that the true joy of the festival is found in participation; spectators are encouraged to join the “Hanagasa Circle Dance” held near the parade goal in front of City Hall, or look for the designated “walk-in corners” (Tobairi) near the tail of the procession.
The parade starts at 6:00 PM and lasts until 9:30 PM each evening. It follows a straight 1.2-kilometer route down the main street of Yamagata City, starting at the Tokamachi intersection near Daini Koen and moving north toward the Bunshokan (the former prefectural capitol building). Because the Bunshokan serves as the dramatic backdrop for the parade’s finale, this northern end of the route is the most densely crowded. Visitors are advised to utilize the JR Yamagata Station area for early viewing, as the sidewalks near the start of the route offer slightly better mobility before the groups converge for the final performances at the City Hall plaza.
