Now held for the 103rd time, the Kawabiraki (川開き), literally "river opening," is the biggest annual event in Miyagi's second city: three days of ceremonies, boat races, parades and fireworks along the Old Kitakami River. Festival hours are scheduled as 3 pm to 8 pm on Friday, 9 am to 9:30 pm on Saturday, and 9 am to 8 pm on Sunday.
The festival began in 1916, in gratitude to Kawamura Magobei Shigeyoshi (川村孫兵衛重吉), the man credited with saving Ishinomaki through flood control. A retainer of the Sendai lord Date Masamune, he cut a new course for the Kitakami and opened the port that turned Ishinomaki into a merchant town. The festival gives thanks for what the river provides—and, from its first year, has also consoled those the water took. Since 2011, a memorial service for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake has been held as part of it every year.
Friday: the eve festival
The rites begin at 3 pm at Shigeyoshi Shrine, then work across town — Magobei's graveside, Hiyoriyama Park, Nawabari Shrine — reaching Sumiyoshi Park at 6 pm for the memorial service, where an incense table is set out for those attending. The evening ends with the ryūtō (流燈): at 6:30 pm, around 1,000 lanterns go onto the river upstream of Uchikai Bridge.
Saturday: the first day of the main festival
Crews race ten-metre wooden Magobei-bune (孫兵衛船) in front of Sumiyoshi Park, followed by a shrine tug-of-war, mikoshi processions through the streets, and a Blue Impulse display flight in the late afternoon. The fireworks begin at 7:30 pm, downstream of Kaihoku Bridge.
Sunday: the final day
The boat races reach their finals and the town centre fills for the main parade: elementary school marching bands, dancers in costume, and the Ōryō odori (大漁踊り), the "big catch dance."
Please keep in mind that the fireworks go ahead in light rain. In heavy rain or stormy weather they are postponed to Sunday 2 August, alongside that day's scheduled events.
