The annual Kanto Festival, held every August in hopes of bringing about a bountiful harvest, has kicked off in the northern Japanese city of Akita.

The festival features long bamboo poles with thousands of paper lanterns called "kanto" that fill the main street of Akita City. The kanto poles and lanterns are meant to resemble rice stalks.

On Saturday, 263 kanto poles were raised up shortly after 7 p.m., illuminating the boulevard in a golden brown light. The largest kanto measures 12 meters and weighs 50 kilograms.

Kanto bearers called "sashite" balanced the poles on their foreheads and lower backs, drawing loud applause from the spectators.

The festival, which is designated a national important intangible folk cultural property, follows record rainfalls in Akita Prefecture last month. Many rivers overflowed and 270 houses were inundated.

The kanto bearers said that they wanted to use their skills to encourage people affected by the disaster.

A local elementary schoolboy said that their techniques are always impressive, and that he wants to hoist a kanto someday.

A man in his 60s from Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, said that he was deeply impressed by the sight of so many kanto poles and lanterns, and thought it was worth coming to see.

The festival runs through Tuesday.