On August 1st in Hirosaki City, each Neputa group held a voluntary operation and exhibited Neputa.

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival is a summer festival that runs with a float and a shout, centered on fan-shaped neputa. The festival is held from August 1st to 7th every year, and about 80 Neputa groups operate jointly in the city center, but this year it was canceled for the second consecutive year due to the influence of the new coronavirus.

In the Higashimeya district, which consists of 11 town councils in the suburbs of Hirosaki City, on August 1, the Higashimeya Neputa Festival draws medium-sized neputa and small neputa drawn by sixth graders, and runs voluntarily along the old road for about 5 km. did. Participants, who reduced the number to one-third of the average year, thoroughly disinfected and wore masks, and contacted the neighborhood association in advance by using a circulation board to ask for applause instead of cheering.

Masato Mikami, the representative of the "Higashimeya Neputa Lovers Association," said, "Initially, only adults were planning to go around the area, but only sixth graders were allowed to participate in the service as the last memory of the summer vacation of elementary school. It's been a few years since it started operating. Some elderly people applauded the old-fashioned operation from the roadside and said, "I'm glad I was able to see it." "It's a pity that the joint operation will be canceled, but we would like to make the operation exciting this year with only the locals and prepare for next year."

According to Hirosaki City, 40 Neputa groups in the city will carry out some kind of voluntary activities.