Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with dance and music in Japan. In Japan, festivals are called matsuri (祭り), and the origin of the word matsuri is related to the kami, and there are theories that the word matsuri is derived from matsu (待つ) meaning "to wait ", tatematsuru (献る) meaning "to make offerings to the kami", and matsurau (奉う) meaning "to obey the kami". The theory that it is derived from matsurau is the most popular.
Rabat is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 11,497 as of March 2014. It adjoins the ancient capital city of Mdina, and a north-western area formed part of the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment.
Gramado is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is located in the Serra Gaúcha region. The city was originally settled by Azorean descendants and later received a contingent of German and Italian immigrants. Gramado is one of the cities along the scenic route known as Rota Romântica.
Cristina Branco is a Portuguese musician. She was drawn to jazz and styles of Portuguese music before settling on fado, a choice made after being introduced to the music of Amália Rodrigues by her grandfather. Branco then studied the poems from which the major fado lyrics are taken. Branco performs accompanied by composer Custódio Castelo on guitar.
Bingata is a traditional stencilled resist dyeing technique originating in Okinawa Prefecture. Bingata typically features a busy pattern of repeating nature motifs such as fish, flowers and fauna in a number of bright colours. Bingata is worn during traditional Ryukyuan festivals and traditional arts performances.
Kodama are spirits in Japanese folklore that inhabit trees. The term is also used to denote a tree in which a kodama supposedly resides. The phenomenon known as yamabiko, when sounds make a delayed echoing effect in mountains and valleys, is sometimes attributed to this kind of spirit and may also be referred to as "kodama".
Toledo is a municipality in the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is located in the western region of the state, near Cascavel. As of 2021, its population is 142,645 inhabitants.
Ceriana is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, located about 110 kilometres (68 mi) southwest of Genoa and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Imperia. As of 2018, it had a population of 1,214 and an area of 32.1 square kilometres (12.4 sq mi).
The SouthSide Film Festival is an annual non-competitive, not-for-profit film festival that takes place each June in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The first festival took place in 2004.
Asia Alfasi is a Libyan-British manga-influenced comic writer and artist. She was born in Libya and moved to Scotland at the age of 7. She lives in Birmingham, England. Her works synthesise Islamic, Libyan, British, and Japanese influences. She first gained notoriety when she was the first female to participate in and win the Hi8us Midlands Stripsearch competition with a portfolio based on her character Monir.
Yukka nu hii is an annual festival of the Okinawa Islands of southwestern Japan, which is traditionally celebrated on the 4th day of the 5th month of the lunisolar calendar. It centers on the traditional dragon boat races. The festival dates back to circa 1400, where it is said to have been adopted from the Chinese. The dragon boat races are a form of giving thanks to the sea and agricultural gods and asking for their continued help for the future.
The Naha Tug of war (那覇大綱挽) is an event at the annual festival held in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. Its roots may be traced back to the 17th century. Held on Route 58, it is a battle between the East and West teams.
Summer Days with Coo is a 2007 Japanese animated film about a kappa and its impact on an ordinary suburban family, written for the screen and directed by Keiichi Hara based on two novels by Masao Kogure.
Chobin Zukeran was the mayor of Nanjō, Okinawa and a former member of the House of Representatives of Japan, representing Okinawa 4th district. He was elected in the 2009 Japanese general election. He is an outspoken proponent of the removal of American bases from Okinawa.
Shaz Bennett is an American writer, filmmaker, performance artist and film programmer.
The Kijimuna, or Bunagaya, are creatures of the mythology native to the island of Okinawa. They are said to look around three or four years old and have red hair.
The category of Fiesta of National Tourist Interest in Spain is an honorary designation given by the General Secretariat of Tourism of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Government of Spain to fiestas, festivals or events held in Spain that offer real interest as national tourism attractions. This category was created in 1979 to adjust the new competences of the ministries in the transition. Since 1965, and until 1979, there was only the declaration of Fiesta of Tourist Interest, and with the new reform the honorary designations were divided into three tiers: Festivals of International Tourist Interest, Festivals of National Tourist Interest and Festivals of Tourist Interest.
Francesco Piemontesi is a Swiss pianist.
Antonello Silverini is an Italian illustrator. He is the first illustrator awarded the MAM prize. He has collaborated with Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica, Panorama, l'Espresso, The Boston Globe, The Economist and The Washington Post and has designed book covers for several novels including those of Ian McEwan for Einaudi and Philip K. Dick for Fanucci.
Growl of Clown is a Mongolian deathcore band formed in 2014. They formed a band and prepared their first songs and music in a Mongolian Yurt at a traditional cow firm. The band currently consists of 4 people and includes vocalist Khurelbaatar Battulga, drummer Altan-Erdene Erdenechimeg, lead guitarist Barkhuu Otgonbayar and bass guitarist Yeruult Yostoi.
