I once had the privilege of attending a class where I learned how to put a kimono on. The obi, (the belt), was so complex the teacher had to help me tie it. Unfortunately, this style of dress is dying out. Most young people in Japan do not know how to put on a kimono. That said, there are still many traditions that encourage people to wear them. For example, parents dress their children up for coming-of-age ceremonies, and many voluntarily wear yukatas for summer festivals.
Speaking of festivals, each region of Japan has its own set of traditional festivals that they celebrate every year. In Akita, there are four, the Kanto festival, which Akita is most known for, the end of the summer fireworks display, the Namahage oni dance, and a fun igloo festival in February. The Kanto festival is where men balance large bamboo poles with racks of paper lanterns on their palms, hips, shoulders, and foreheads to the sound of traditional drums and bamboo flutes. There is a kanto club in the school I am attending, and one of my roommates is part of it. She is part of the group that beats the drums. We occasionally see them practice outside with the lanterns, and during special events, such as the opening of the year ceremony or the school festival, they perform. The Namahage oni dance is similar, but it is to reenact a folk story of two onis, (a Japanese mythical creature) and their friendship through dance.
I am sure everyone knows about ramen and sushi, but do you know what dishes Akita is famous for? Akita has several local dishes, but I will describe the two most famous. The first is kiritanpo, which is pounded rice that is roasted on a skewer and then soaked in a simple stew.
