On the 350th anniversary of Date Masamune’s death, in 1985 the Sendai Aoba Festival began to revitalize the boisterous and proud festival culture of Sendai. It is now considered the three festivals of Sendai, attracting visitors worldwide as a summer favorite.
The Sendai Aoba festival held every May aims to celebrate Date’s essence. The “Yoi Matsuri” is where the “Sendai Suzume Dance(sparrow dance)” is performed. The “Hon Matsuri” is where citizens perform a historic epic that celebrates Date Masamune, by going around Aoba Shrine with 11 parade floats. The festival runs for two days.
During the festival, two events, named the “Date-en” and “Mori no Ichi” are held. Visitors can see craftsmen perform their skills and enjoy activities such as mochi pounding, shooting, haunted houses and more at the “Date-en” which recreates a castle town. The “Mori no Ichi” features stalls with local foods and items, celebrating Date Masamune’s gourmet tendencies. See, hear, dance, eat and enjoy the Sendai Aoba Festival.