Yuwaku Onsen’s Hanasaku Iroha Inspired Festival Was Reinvigorated for Its 10th Anniversary
After a two-year COVID-19 forced break, Yuwaku Onsen’s Bonbori Festival returned to the streets of the hot-springs town, reestablishing itself as one of the premier tourist destinations for anime fans – especially those who love the Hanasaku Iroha TV anime. Though this was the big return for the festival, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, visitor numbers were kept low, only allowing those who had booked an onsen room in advance, plus pre-bought tickets, allowed to partake in the festivities.
Though, those who were lucky enough to be able to attend the event seemed to enjoy themselves, with anime traveler ye_bi_su noting on Twitter that the festival feels like it has transcended its anime roots and become a local custom, much like other bonbori events across Japan. Even so, Hanasaku Iroha opening theme song singers Nana.RIPE performed at a local school, keeping some of those anime roots alive. The Twitter user posted footage from the event, which can be seen below.
アニメが現実に憑依して10年、民俗コスプレの枠を超え、本物の習俗になりつつある湯涌温泉ぼんぼりまつり。 pic.twitter.com/ZWSjnB7osH
— 夷（ゑびす）@「聖地移住」通販中 (@ye_bi_su) October 22, 2022
RELATED: “Hanasaku Iroha” Bonbori Festival Report – A Fictional Event Becomes Real Life Tradition
The Yuwaku Bonbori Festival came about after the airing of the Hanasaku Iroha TV anime to aid in boosting the economy of the local area, due to tourists flocking to the onsen town after it was the inspiration behind the P.A. Works show. This led to an annual tradition where the Bonbori Festival is held every October which mixes the fictional festival with traditional Japanese customs. This was the event’s 10th anniversary.
【ご来場及びご視聴御礼】本日は第10回湯涌ぼんぼり祭りにご来場及びLive配信をご視聴頂き、誠にありがとうございました。湯涌の町を笑顔で散策される皆様にお会い出来た事、非常に嬉しく思います。次回は、より以上の笑顔にお会いできる事を楽しみに次回のぼんぼり祭りの準備を進めて参ります。
— 湯涌ぼんぼり祭り (@yuwaku_bonbori) October 22, 2022
The festival’s official Twitter account thanked those who attended the event (which can be seen in the above Tweet) and confirmed that the festivities will continue next year, hoping to “see even more smiling faces.”
Sources: ye_bi_su on Twitter, Yuwaku Bonbori Festival on Twitter
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Daryl Harding is a Senior Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.
