The Amazing Floats of 'Tachi Neputa' Festival in Goshogawara (August 4-8)

You have to see it to believe it, during the Tachi Neputa Festival (August 4 to 8) floats measuring up to 70 feet tall (20 meters, a few stories high) and weighing more than seventeen tons are paraded through the streets of the city of Goshogawara in the Tsugaru region.

The festival has its origins in the early 1900s but after fires destroyed most of the city went through a long lull.
After documents on the original floats were discovered, the festival was revived in 1998 and has been a popular event ever since.

Thanks to Ikeike London I learned that 'Tachi' means standing and that the festival fleet also includes giant Taiko drums which you can see in action in the video above.
Ikeike's piece offers a number of pictures of Tachi Neputa.

The Festivals of Summer for Tokyo Thursdays # 50, yes Fifty...

Last week: Fabrice Hyber plants Seeds and Thoughts at WATARI-UM in Tokyo