Sakai's Three Major Festivals

Liberal City Sakai
The message from the people of Sakai;" We are proud to live aggressively today and to create brilliant tomorrow."

The Sakai Festival has been held on the third Saturday and Sunday of October every year since 1974 as a way for residents to show their pride in their city. Central to the festival is an enormous and elaborately staged parade featuring a total of 7,000 participants that includes the city's distinctive "Nambansen" floats, performances by groups of brave soldiers wielding matchlock guns, and processions of folk costumes from around the world. Typically attracting more than 400,000 attendees, the event captures Sakai's uniquely historic and international flavor with attractions including the "NambanIchi Market" where visitors can purchase local specialties, and the "Grand Tea Ceremony of Sakai, Hometown of Sen-no-Rikyu," which reflects the city's pride in the culture of the tea ceremony of the (great) Sen-no-Rikyu.

Sakai's comprehensive sports event, the Sakai Citizens' Olympics has been held every year since 1975 on Health and Sports (a national holiday that falls on the second Monday of October). Spirited competitions are held in the six events of softball, volleyball, table tennis, track and field, gate ball, and tug of war, with elementary school students from the city's various school districts joining participants of all ages, including senior citizens, who have won in local qualifying tournaments. Citizens from different neighborhoods mingle at event venues as they enjoy autumn, the season of sport.

The Sakai City Agricultural Festival features the "Tore-tore Market" where visitors can purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables; agricultural-livestock prize show; a flower market; a local specialties market; and stage performances. The Festival has been held on November 23 every year since 1976. It is designed to allow citizens to share the joy of autumn harvest with farmers and to promote better understanding and awareness of agriculture as well as to encourage the city's agricultural sector.