[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news:jp-akita-jiguchi-lantern-festival-2026-05-12":3},{"meta":4,"markdown":62},{"type":5,"articleId":6,"slug":7,"title":8,"titleEn":9,"category":10,"summary":11,"publishedAt":12,"vocabulary":13},"news","news-jp-akita-jiguchi-lantern-festival-2026-05-12","jp-akita-jiguchi-lantern-festival-2026-05-12","秋田の地口絵灯ろう祭り、300の灯籠が夜を彩る","Akita's Jiguchi Picture Lantern Festival Lights Up the Night With 300 Lanterns","jp-culture","A traditional festival called the Jiguchi Picture Lantern Festival opened on May 12 at Katsuhira Shrine in Akita City. Around 300 hand-painted lanterns, many using wordplay to satirize recent events, are on display, while the festival has also drawn new attention after being designated a municipal intangible folk cultural property in March.\n","2026-05-12T00:00:00Z",[14,19,24,28,32,36,40,44,48,53,58],{"word":15,"reading":16,"meaning":17,"level":18},"灯籠","とうろう","lantern","N2",{"word":20,"reading":21,"meaning":22,"level":23},"風刺","ふうし","satire","N1",{"word":25,"reading":26,"meaning":27,"level":23},"境内","けいだい","shrine grounds",{"word":29,"reading":30,"meaning":31,"level":23},"地口","じぐち","playful word twist",{"word":33,"reading":34,"meaning":35,"level":18},"文化財","ぶんかざい","cultural property",{"word":37,"reading":38,"meaning":39,"level":18},"手作業","てさぎょう","handwork",{"word":41,"reading":42,"meaning":43,"level":23},"題材","だいざい","subject matter",{"word":45,"reading":46,"meaning":47,"level":23},"徹する","てっする","to stay through",{"word":49,"reading":50,"meaning":51,"level":52},"小学生","しょうがくせい","elementary school student","N4",{"word":54,"reading":55,"meaning":56,"level":57},"指定","してい","designation","N3",{"word":59,"reading":60,"meaning":61,"level":57},"明かり","あかり","light","\n::para\n[秋田市]{あきたし:Akita City:N3}の[勝平神社]{かつひらじんじゃ:Katsuhira Shrine:N3}で、[伝統]{でんとう:tradition:N1}ある[地口絵灯]{じぐちえとう:picture lantern:N2}ろう[祭り]{まつり:festival:N2}が5月12日に[始まった]{はじまった:began:N4}。[境内]{けいだい:shrine grounds:N2}と[町内]{ちょうない:neighborhood:N3}には、およそ300の[灯籠]{とうろう:lanterns:N1}が[並び]{ならび:lined up:N2}、[日没]{にちぼつ:sunset:N1}が[近づく]{ちかづく:draw near:N4}につれてやさしい[光]{ひかり:light:N3}が[浮かび上がる]{うかびあがる:come into view:N3}と[報じられた]{ほうじられた:was reported:N3}。\n\n#en\nThe traditional Jiguchi Picture Lantern Festival began on May 12 at Katsuhira Shrine in Akita City. About 300 lanterns were reported to be lined up around the shrine grounds and nearby streets, with a gentle glow emerging as sunset approached.\n::\n\n::heading\n[風刺]{ふうし:satire:N2}と[季節]{きせつ:season:N1}が[並ぶ]{ならぶ:line up:N2}[灯籠]{とうろう:lanterns:N1}\n\n#en\nLanterns Mixing Satire and the Season\n::\n\n::para\n[会場]{かいじょう:venue:N4}には、[最近]{さいきん:recent:N3}の[出来事]{できごと:events:N4}を[題材]{だいざい:subject matter:N2}にした[絵灯籠]{えとうろう:picture lanterns:N1}が[並んでいる]{ならんでいる:are lined up:N2}とされる。[クマ]{くま:bear}の[出没]{しゅつぼつ:appearance:N1}や[詐欺]{さぎ:fraud:N1}のような[話題]{わだい:topics:N4}から、[桜]{さくら:cherry blossoms:N1}の[下]{した:under:N5}での[花見]{はなみ:flower viewing:N4}のような[穏やかな]{おだやかな:gentle:N1}[場面]{ばめん:scenes:N3}まで、[幅広い]{はばひろい:wide-ranging:N2}[内容]{ないよう:content:N3}が[見られる]{みられる:can be seen:N5}ようだ。\n\n#en\nThe venue is said to feature picture lanterns based on recent events. The content appears wide-ranging, from topics such as bear sightings and fraud to calmer scenes like cherry-blossom viewing under the trees.\n::\n\n::para\n[祭り]{まつり:festival:N2}の[名前]{なまえ:name:N5}にある[地口]{じぐち:playful word twist:N4}とは、ことわざや[決まり文句]{きまりもんく:fixed phrase:N1}をもじる[言葉遊び]{ことばあそび:wordplay:N3}のことだと[伝えられている]{つたえられている:is reported:N3}。[来場者]{らいじょうしゃ:visitors:N4}は[絵]{え:pictures:N3}と[言葉]{ことば:words:N3}を[見比べながら]{みくらべながら:while comparing:N2}、その[年]{とし:year:N5}の[出来事]{できごと:events:N4}を[振り返る]{ふりかえる:look back on:N1}のも[楽しみ]{たのしみ:pleasure:N4}の[ひとつ]{ひとつ:one}だとされる。\n\n#en\nThe word `jiguchi` in the festival's name refers to playful twists on proverbs and fixed expressions, according to reports. Visitors are said to enjoy comparing the pictures and words while looking back on the year's events.\n::\n\n::callout\n[今年]{ことし:this year:N5}の[灯籠]{とうろう:lanterns:N1}には、[世界]{せかい:world:N4}で[知られる]{しられる:be known:N4} [選手]{せんしゅ:athlete:N3}を[連想]{れんそう:evoke:N3}させる[作品]{さくひん:works:N4}もあると[紹介された]{しょうかいされた:were introduced:N2}。[時事]{じじ:current-events:N4}[性]{せい:-ness:N3}と[遊び心]{あそびごころ:playfulness:N3}が、この[祭り]{まつり:festival:N2}の[特徴]{とくちょう:feature:N1}になっているようだ。\n\n#en\nThis year's lanterns are also reported to include works that evoke globally known athletes. Current events and a sense of play seem to be defining features of the festival.\n::\n\n::heading\n[長い]{ながい:long:N5}[歴史]{れきし:history:N2}と[手作業]{てさぎょう:handwork:N4}\n\n#en\nLong History and Handwork\n::\n\n::para\nこの[祭り]{まつり:festival:N2}は[江戸時代]{えどじだい:Edo period:N1}[中期]{ちゅうき:middle period:N3}から[続く]{つづく:continue:N3}[行事]{ぎょうじ:event:N4}で、2026年3月には[秋田市]{あきたし:Akita City:N3}の[無形]{むけい:intangible:N3}[民俗]{みんぞく:folk:N1}[文化財]{ぶんかざい:cultural property:N3}に[指定された]{していされた:was designated:N3}ばかりだと[報じられた]{ほうじられた:was reported:N3}。[地元]{じもと:local:N4}に[根づいた]{ねづいた:deeply rooted:N2}[風物詩]{ふうぶつし:seasonal tradition:N1}として、あらためて[注目]{ちゅうもく:attention:N4}を[集めている]{あつめている:is drawing:N4}と[見られる]{みられる:is seen:N5}。\n\n#en\nThe festival is reported to date back to the middle of the Edo period, and in March 2026 it was newly designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Akita City. It is seen as drawing fresh attention as a seasonal tradition deeply rooted in the local area.\n::\n\n::para\n[絵灯籠]{えとうろう:picture lanterns:N1}はすべて[手作業]{てさぎょう:handwork:N4}で[作られる]{つくられる:are made:N4}という。[長年]{ながねん:for many years:N5}[書き手]{かきて:artist:N4}を[務める]{つとめる:serve as:N3} [神尾忠雄]{かみおただお:Tadao Kamio:N1}さんは90[歳]{さい:years old:N3}で、58[年]{ねん:years:N5}にわたって[灯籠]{とうろう:lanterns:N1}を[描き続けてきた]{えがきつづけてきた:has kept painting:N1}と[紹介された]{しょうかいされた:was introduced:N2}。\n\n#en\nAll of the picture lanterns are said to be made by hand. Tadao Kamio, a 90-year-old longtime artist involved with the event, was introduced as having continued painting lanterns for 58 years.\n::\n\n::para\n[神尾]{かみお:Kamio:N1}さんは、[テレビ]{てれび:television}や[新聞]{しんぶん:newspapers:N4}で[取り上げられた]{とりあげられた:featured:N3} [話題]{わだい:topics:N4}から[題材]{だいざい:subject matter:N2}を[決める]{きめる:choose:N3}とされる。[今年]{ことし:this year:N5}は3月からおよそ70[枚]{まい:sheets:N2}を[仕上げ]{しあげ:finish:N4}、[夜]{よる:night:N4}を[徹して]{てっして:through the night:N1}[作業]{さぎょう:work:N4}した[日]{ひ:days:N5}もあったという。\n\n#en\nKamio is said to choose his subjects from topics featured on television and in newspapers. This year he reportedly completed about 70 pieces from March onward, with some days involving work through the night.\n::\n\n::heading\n[若い]{わかい:young:N3}[世代]{せだい:generation:N4}も[参加]{さんか:join:N3}\n\n#en\nYounger Generations Join In\n::\n\n::para\n[今年]{ことし:this year:N5}は[若い]{わかい:young:N3}[力]{ちから:energy:N4}も[加わった]{くわわった:joined:N3}。[地元]{じもと:local:N4}の[保戸野小学校]{ほどのしょうがっこう:Hodono Elementary School:N1}の[6年生]{ろくねんせい:sixth graders:N5}が、[絵灯籠]{えとうろう:picture lanterns:N1}づくりに[初めて]{はじめて:for the first time:N3}[挑戦した]{ちょうせんした:took on:N1}と[報じられている]{ほうじられている:is being reported:N3}。\n\n#en\nThis year younger energy also joined the event. Sixth graders at local Hodono Elementary School were reported to have tried making picture lanterns for the first time.\n::\n\n::para\n[市]{し:city:N3}の[文化財]{ぶんかざい:cultural property:N3}[指定]{してい:designation:N3}が、その[参加]{さんか:participation:N3}のきっかけになったという。[伝統]{でんとう:tradition:N1}を[受け継ぐ]{うけつぐ:carry on:N1}だけでなく、[子ども]{こども:children:N5}たちが[地域]{ちいき:community:N2}の[歴史]{れきし:history:N2}に[触れる]{ふれる:come into contact with:N2}[機会]{きかい:opportunity:N3}にもなっているようだ。\n\n#en\nThe city's cultural-property designation reportedly became the trigger for that participation. It seems to be serving not only as a way to carry on tradition, but also as a chance for children to connect with local history.\n::\n\n::heading\n[13日]{じゅうさんにち:the 13th:N5}まで[明かり]{あかり:lights:N4}がともる\n\n#en\nLights Stay On Through May 13\n::\n\n::para\n[祭り]{まつり:festival:N2}は5月13日まで[続く]{つづく:continue:N3}とされ、[午後]{ごご:p.m.:N5}6時から[午後]{ごご:p.m.:N5}9時まで[灯籠]{とうろう:lanterns:N1}に[明かり]{あかり:light:N4}がともされるという。[昼]{ひる:daytime:N4}とは[違う]{ちがう:different:N3}やわらかな[夜]{よる:night:N4}の[表情]{ひょうじょう:look:N3}が、[会場]{かいじょう:venue:N4}の[魅力]{みりょく:appeal:N1}をさらに[深める]{ふかめる:deepen:N3}と[見られている]{みられている:is seen:N5}。\n\n#en\nThe festival is said to continue through May 13, with the lanterns lit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening. The softer nighttime appearance, different from the daytime view, is seen as adding further appeal to the venue.\n::\n\n::para\n[秋田]{あきた:Akita:N4}の[人々]{ひとびと:people:N5}が[受け継いできた]{うけついできた:have handed down:N1}[言葉遊び]{ことばあそび:wordplay:N3}と[絵]{え:pictures:N3}の[文化]{ぶんか:culture:N3}は、[今年]{ことし:this year:N5}も[静かな]{しずかな:quiet:N3} [明かり]{あかり:light:N4}の[中]{なか:within:N5}で[訪れた]{おとずれた:visiting:N3}[人]{ひと:people:N5}を[迎えている]{むかえている:is welcoming:N3}。にぎやかな[祭り]{まつり:festival:N2}であると[同時]{どうじ:at the same time:N4}に、[地域]{ちいき:community:N2}の[記憶]{きおく:memory:N1}を[映す]{うつす:reflect:N4} [場]{ば:place:N4}でもあるようだ。\n\n#en\nThe culture of wordplay and pictures passed down by people in Akita is welcoming visitors again this year in a calm glow. The event seems to be not only a lively festival, but also a place that reflects the community's memory.\n::\n"]