Issaki Hoto Festival

Every August, the Issaki Hōtō Festival takes place in Ishizaki (Issaki), a historic fishing district of Nanao City where traditional customs and maritime spirit remain strong. The festival is held on the first Saturday of August and is the one time each year when local fishermen and residents come together in an intense display of strength, pride, and communal devotion.

At the heart of the festival are six enormous lantern towers known as kiriko (also called hōtō). Each lantern stands approximately 10 meters tall and can weigh up to 2,000 kilograms. As evening falls, the kiriko are illuminated and carried through the streets by teams of men dressed in twisted headbands, tabi boots, tightly wrapped sarashi, and protective amulets. Throughout the town, the sound of festival music (matsuri-bayashi) gradually builds the atmosphere, signalling the start of the celebration.

As the procession advances, powerful chants of “Sakkasai, Sakasassai, Iyasakasā” echo through the streets, creating a dramatic and energetic scene. Residents and spectators line the route, watching as the massive lanterns sway and surge forward, an overwhelming sight that reflects both physical endurance and collective spirit. The festival reaches its climax during the ranbu kyōen, a dynamic competitive display in which multiple kiriko are raised and maneuvered simultaneously.