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Yasukuni Shrine during the Mitama Matsuri before dark.
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Yasukuni Shrine's main torii during Mitama Matsuri
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Promenade to the shrine
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Spotlights create a silhouette of the statue of Omura Masujiro (1824-1869) 大村益次郎, founder of Japan's modern army.
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A bon dance around the base of the statue.
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Spotlights hit the torii.
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At night, 30,000 lanterns light up. A real summer spectacle.
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The lanterns are lit by lightbulbs, not candles.
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Tanabata streamers festoon the gate.
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At 6:30 pm, a mikoshi portable shrine was paraded along the promenade.
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One of the giant spotlights used to accent the mikoshi, torii, and night sky.
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After the mikoshi, the Nebuta float and haneto dancers make an appearance.
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Rassera-rassera!
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Nebuta float and haneto dancers. Also see the video at YouTube.Mitama Mtasuri at Yasukuni Shrine.
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Awa Odori dancers also performed.
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Nebuta close-up
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Nice to see a bit of Aomori in Tokyo.
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After the Nebuta made its way in front of the shrine, a short prayer was held.
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The shrine
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The Nebuta then went back to the promenade.
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Lanterns
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The lanterns are written with the names of the donors.
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Stage entertainment is also provided during the festival.
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The bigger lanterns have artwork. Some of them were done by celebrities.
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Path to the Yushukan war museum.
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Yushukan war museum
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Next to the museum was a display of different lanterns, including a Neputa (left) and Nebuta (right).
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Neputa is from Hirosaki, Aomori Pref.
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Neputa closeup
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Food stall
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