We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2017

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5Aizu Festival — September 22-24, 2017Centered around Aizuwakamatsu’s landmark Tsuruga Castle, the festival consists of various events such as traditional dances, processions of lanterns, and a parade with local elementary school marching bands. For the main event, a total of around 500 people dressed up as warriors and nobles march through town in the Aizu Feudal Lords’ Procession.Soma Nomaoi Festival — scheduled for July 2018The festival’s origins are thought to date back a millennium, beginning as a military exercise of catching a wild horse and a ceremony dedicating the horse to Shinto gods. More than 500 armored warriors on galloping horses ride during the festival, creating an impressive spectacle. The festival is scheduled to be held next year at the end of July. Nihonmatsu CityAizuwakamatsuCityMinamisoma CityFukushima CityFukushimaPref.• Population: Approximately 1.88 million• Total Area: 13,780 km2 (5,320 mi2)• Prefectural Capital: Fukushima City• Access: Approximately 300 km (186 mi) from Tokyo to Fukushima; 90 minutes by Shinkansen.Fukushima Prefecture Overview