SENBOKU, Akita Prefecture--The night skies of Senboku were ablaze in a warm orange light on Feb. 10 as the people in this northern Japanese city celebrated their traditional Kami Fusen Age (Flying Paper Balloon) festival.
SENBOKU, Akita Prefecture--The night skies of Senboku were ablaze in a warm orange light on Feb. 10 as the people in this northern Japanese city celebrated their traditional Kami Fusen Age (Flying Paper Balloon) festival.
One hundred paper balloons with lanterns carried special messages this year, calling for good health and recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku region.
The balloons were homemade and came in all shapes and sizes, many adorned with traditional scenes and figures such as samurai warriors and beautiful women of the Edo Period (1603-1867).
"Go for it, Tohoku," read the message on one balloon that typified the celebration's message of hope.