Gigantic Floats at Aomori Nebuta Festival Light Up the Summer Sky

1

Gigantic Floats at Aomori Nebuta Festival Light Up the Summer Sky

Directions: Read the following article aloud.

Aomori Nebuta Festival, Tohoku's legendary summer event, is finally back with 23 massive floats, lively dance, and plenty of music.

The Aomori Nebuta Festival kicked off on August 2, with a lively display of huge warrior-themed floats illuminating the night.

"Haneto" performers, wearing vibrant yukata, danced and jumped while the crowd cheered "Rasserā! Rasserā!" infusing the northern prefecture's summer sky with contagious energy. This marks the festival's return after a four-year break due to COVID-19 restrictions.

By 7:00 pm, the huge floats were in position, dramatically signaling the beginning of the festival. These floats, each measuring an impressive 9 meters (30 ft) wide, 5 meters (16 ft) tall, and weighing a staggering 4 tons, barely managed to fit on the main street.

Spirited "haneto" dancers moved in perfect sync with the chants and drums. The Aomori Nebuta Festival will continue until August 7, featuring a total of 23 floats.

Source：Gigantic Floats at Aomori Nebuta Festival Light Up the Summer Sky
JAPAN Forward

2

Key phrases and vocabulary

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud by yourself.

1. infuse （強い感情や情熱を）注ぐ、（人の心をある感情で）満たす、（ある考えを）吹き込む、（お茶などを）煎じる

The teacher's passion for science helped infuse curiosity into the minds of her students.

2. contagious （病気などが）伝染性の、（感情などが）人に移りやすい

His laughter was so contagious that soon everyone in the room was giggling along with him.

3. mark （特別な出来事を）祝う・記念する、（人や物を）特徴づける、注意を払う、指し示す、印をつける、得点を記録する

We will mark our anniversary with a special dinner at our favorite restaurant.

4. signal 合図となる、合図する、合図で～を知らせる・伝える、信号を送る、～の前兆となる、合図、引き金、信号の

TThe sudden change in weather signaled that the storm was approaching.

5. manage to 何とか～する・できる、思いがけず～してしまう

Despite the heavy traffic, I managed to arrive at the meeting on time.

3

Questions

Directions: Read the questions aloud and answer them.

1. Why was the Aomori Nebuta Festival not held for the past four years?

2. What do “Haneto” do at the festival?

3. Would you prefer to be a dancer, a musician, or someone who helps create the floats?

4. What do you think makes cultural festivals special and important for a region?

5. If you were to design a float for a similar festival, what theme would you choose?

4

勇壮な武者灯籠、観客熱狂　「青森ねぶた祭」開幕

極彩色の巨大な武者灯籠が宵闇を照らす「青森ねぶた祭」が８月２日、青森市で開幕した。

浴衣姿の踊り手浴衣姿の踊り手「ハネト」が「ラッセラー」のかけ声とともに躍動し、北国の夏を熱気が包んだ。今年は新型コロナウイルス対策の参加制限がなくなり、４年ぶりの通常開催。期間中は２３台の大型ねぶたが練り歩く。８月７日まで。

午後７時過ぎ、市内中心部の大通りに勇壮なねぶたがずらりと並び、祭りが始まった。幅９メートル、高さ５メートル、重さ４トンにもなる大型ねぶたが沿道ぎりぎりまで迫り、観客は大興奮。

きらびやかな装飾をまとったハネト衆は、活気あるおはやしに合わせて力いっぱい跳びはねた。

出典：勇壮な武者灯籠、観客熱狂　「青森ねぶた祭」開幕
JAPAN Forward

1 Gigantic Floats at Aomori Nebuta Festival Light Up the Summer Sky

2 Key phrases and vocabulary

3 Questions

4 勇壮な武者灯籠、観客熱狂 「青森ねぶた祭」開幕

1

Gigantic Floats at Aomori Nebuta Festival Light Up the Summer Sky

2

Key phrases and vocabulary

3

Questions

4

勇壮な武者灯籠、観客熱狂　「青森ねぶた祭」開幕