Enshu Hamakita Flying Dragon Festival in Tenryugawa, Hamamatsu
As the sun set over the Tenryugawa River, I was excited for the Enshu Hamakita Flying Dragon Festival. This event, held in late May or early June, celebrates the Dragon God, Ryujin, who protects the Tenryu River. The festival started in the morning with kite-flying competitions. Huge kites, some as big as 3.2 meters by 2.4 meters, flew high in the sky. The colorful and detailed kites made the atmosphere festive. Families and friends gathered along the river, enjoying picnics and cheering for their favorite kites. Many people set up tents and picnics at the venue, making it a lively and enjoyable place to be. In the afternoon, the festival grounds were full of activities like traditional drum performances and fire dancing. The drum beats created an exciting atmosphere that everyone loved. The main event was the appearance of the flying dragon. As it got dark, a 60-meter-long dragon puppet, lit up with hundreds of LED lights, came to the center of the festival. The dragon, controll...