"Let's make it together! Online Neputa" to watch digitally the "Neputa Festival" which was canceled in various places in Tsugaru will be held online from August 1st.

In order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection, "Neputa/Nebuta", which is close to 40 in size, was canceled in the Tsugaru area. The executive committee formed by volunteers from Hirosaki will hold it as an alternative project. You can watch the "Neputa Festival" that operates jointly in the digitally drawn town using terminals such as smartphones.

In Aomori Prefecture, there are summer festivals in which "Neputa/Nebuta" run in various areas such as " Aomori Nebuta " and "Goshogawara Aomori Nebuta ". The Neputa in the Tsugaru area centered on the Hirosaki Neputa Festival is characterized by a fan-shaped float. During the period, operation groups such as town councils will jointly operate around the city.

Shunichi Nakagawa, the executive committee, said, "In normal times, it is the time to gather at the sounds of the Hayashi and the Neputa hut where we practice in various places to make floats, but this year it seems that the whole city is depressed by the cancellation. It was planned to be held in some form to make you feel the summer of Tsugaru as much as possible."

Neputa, which operates online, reproduces past Neputa paintings and makes a revival. "If you have a color photograph at the time, you can reproduce it in CG. The photograph is being recruited from the operating organization, but if the Neputa picture before the 1970s whose copyright has expired, I would like to consider it from other than the operating organization. Said Nakagawa.

By incorporating the elements that can be participated, we will prepare an interactive plan to operate the goldfish Neputa and Ougi Neputa drawn by the participants. According to Mr. Nakagawa, there is no application or software to install, and the Neputa picture that you have painted on your smartphone or computer will operate in a digital space within a few seconds. You can watch it for free on the YouTube video site.

When the project was announced in July, it was said that there were consultations from Neputa operating groups other than Hirosaki that they wanted to participate. Mr. Nakagawa said, "I understand with two replies. Neputa has a strong regional character unique to Tsugaru, but this year I want to make it a borderless festival because it is online without being tied to the region."

Nakagawa says that the idea may expand and there may be new plans and changes in schedule. "There may be some fumbling, but we want to make it a festival that can only be done this year, and invite the participants to the whole country. Next year, we want them to visit the site and enjoy the summer of Tsugaru." Show motivation.

Live distribution is scheduled until August 7. The way to browse will be announced on the "Let's make it together! Online Neputa" Facebook page.