Every summer in Japan, something truly magical happens along the rivers and coasts — thousands of glowing lanterns gently float on the water, creating a peaceful, dreamlike scene. This beautiful tradition is called Toro Nagashi, the Japanese Floating Lantern Festival, a heartfelt ceremony honoring ancestors, praying for peace, and celebrating life itself.

If you’re planning a summer trip to Japan, one of the most spectacular events you won’t want to miss is Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka. This lively festival, held every year on July 24th and 25th, is considered one of Japan’s top three festivals, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Tokyo’s Kanda Matsuri. It’s a wonderful celebration full of tradition, energy, and dazzling sights that truly capture the spirit of Japanese summer.

With the World Expo currently being held in Osaka, many of us are curious about expos.  What is a World Expo?  What is the purpose behind it?  With this article, I hope to answer most, if not all, of those questions.

Osaka’s Aizen Festival, also known as the Yukata Festival, is an event that marks the beginning of summer.  One of Osaka’s 3 main summer festivals and Japan’s oldest summer festival, the Aizen Festival has a rich history that dates back to the Asuka period (538-710).  Since 2015, the Aizen Festival has been recognized as an intangible folk cultural property by the city of Osaka.  Every year at Tennoji’s Aizendo Shomanin Temple on June 30th until July 2nd, the streets are fill

大阪の愛染まつりは、浴衣祭りとしても知られ、夏の始まりを告げます。大阪三大夏祭りの一つであり、日本最古の夏祭りである愛染まつりは、飛鳥時代 (538-710) にまで遡る豊かな歴史を持っています。2015年から愛染まつりは、大阪市指定無形民俗文化財に認定されています。毎年6月30日から7月2日まで、天王寺にある愛染堂勝鬘院では、通りは喜びと笑い、美味しい食べ物、そして色彩豊かな浴衣でいっぱいになります。

Mie Prefecture is home to the most famous shrine in Japan, Ise Jingu, also known as the Ise Grand Shrine.  Ise Jingu has 125 betsugu (separate, detached shrines), which include Shima’s Izawanomiya Shrine.  According to the Japan Royal Service, Izawanomiya shrine has a special status among the betsugu under Ise Jingu’s Naiku.  Every June 24th, Izawanomiya Shrine holds the Izawanomiya Omita Ceremony, a rice planting ceremony known as Isobe no Omita. 

三重県には、日本で最も有名な神社である伊勢神宮があります。伊勢神宮には125の別宮があり、その中には志摩の伊雑宮も含まれます。宮内庁によると、伊勢神宮内宮の別宮の中でも、伊雑宮は特別な地位にあります。 毎年6月24日、伊雑宮では磯辺の大御田（いそべのおみた）として知られる田植えの儀式「伊雑宮大御田祭」が執り行われます。伊雑宮御田植祭は、豊作を祈願する日本の三大神事である田植え祭の一つです。この儀式は無形文化遺産に指定され、その重要性が確固たるものとなりました。

While people of all gender identities whole-heartedly believe year-round in the truth that love is love, the month of June in particular is when people and communities around the globe celebrate this irrefutable fact and take enormous pride in themselves for who they are and for who they wish for others to recognize them to be. Hence the name of the month-long celebration PRIDE.