6 days ago
News in Easy English: Japan's hot summers change festival schedules
TOKYO -- Very hot summers in Japan are changing famous summer events. Some festivals now happen in spring or autumn because of extreme heat.
Tokyo's Adachi Fireworks Festival usually happens in late July. But last year, very hot weather caused problems. Workers and visitors felt sick from heat. One person went to the hospital. This year, the event was set for May 31 instead. Many people agree with the change. Families with young children say it is safer and easier for them now.
In Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, the Kujirabune festival usually happens in mid-August. It is a traditional event more than 200 years old and is even recognized by UNESCO. This year, it will happen in late September. This is because many people in the festival are elderly. The festival group wants everyone to be safe from the extreme heat.
Japan's Tohoku area also has changes. Fukushima Prefecture has a famous horse festival called Soma Nomaoi. But last July, very hot weather caused the death of one horse. So now, they have the festival in May.
In the Kyushu area, Kitakyushu moved its big summer festival from August to September. Saga city changed the date of their summer festival too.
However, some festivals need to stay on their regular dates. The Tanabata star festival in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, is always around July 7 every year. Organizers say changing its date would lose its meaning. Instead, they will add mist fans outside to help people feel cool.
(Japanese original by Shuji Ozaki, Digital News Group)
Vocabulary
extreme: very strong; more than normal
elderly: older people
organizer: the person or group that plans an event
