"Next Commons Lab Hirosaki" is currently recruiting participants for the Hirosaki Neputa experience program "Entre!".

The purpose of this program is to stay in Hirosaki during the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, participate in the preparations and operations of the festival, and interact with the locals. This year, the second time, the target participants are residents outside Aomori Prefecture, mainly in their 20s to 40s.

Ms. Saki Ishiyama of "Next Commons Lab Hirosaki," which hosts the festival, said, "The purpose is to increase the number of people involved in the Hirosaki Neputa Festival and the lack of people who carry it out. Among the participants last year, I met people from the groups that participated after the Neputa Festival. Some people came to Hirosaki to play at the time.”

There are two programs: the A course (July 29th to August 4th), which focuses on neputa making experience, and the B course (August 3rd to August 8th), which focuses on neputa dismantling work. Participants during their stay basically experience the festival together with the operating organization, but other than that, they are free to do so. We plan to rent bicycles as a means of transportation in Hirosaki.

The participation fee is 22,000 yen for adults and 11,000 yen for students, including accommodation and insurance. The guest house "ORANDO's 2nd floor" is a guesthouse that utilizes apple crates. Transportation expenses to Hirosaki and food expenses in Hirosaki will be borne by actual expenses.

Mr. Ishiyama, who participated in the Hirosaki Neputa Festival for the first time last year, said, "I'm from Aomori and had participated in Aomori Nebuta before, but Hirosaki Neputa had a different charm from Aomori Nebuta . Above all, the organization that accepted me. The kindness of the members brought tears to my eyes.I want people to feel the Hirosaki Neputa Festival as a cultural experience that cannot be experienced through sightseeing."

The application deadline is July 5th.