Many festivals derive from ancient religious and folk beliefs. The Japanese religion, shinto, was a polytheistic faith which held that natural phenomenon such as mountains, streams and fields, contained deities or spirits. Some festivals are rooted in Buddhism. One festival started as early as the 9th century and has been continued till today. One year after another, the tradition is succeeded from one generation to the next.
Festivals are part of people's lives and coexsist with busy lifestyles of the Japanese people today.
Festivals are way to be in touch with the ancient time and away from the busy everyday life, too. Festivals are ways of expressing their identities as well as appreciation for variety of things. Since most people were farmers long ago, most of the festivals are related in some way to crops, especially the rice crop, and the changing of the seasons. In spring, the Japanese prayed for a good growing season and a healthy crop. The summer months saw festivals intended to protect the growing plants from natural disasters such as typhoons.