After the initial ceremony at the shrine, the participants of the festival gathered in the small park nearby, before starting the parade through the city. As I learned at Notting Hill Carnival a few years ago, these few minutes pre-parade are the perfect time to get some good portrait shots. Great costumes and smiles make the job of a photographer much easier.

Hachinohe Enburi, Aomori, Japan

Hachinohe Enburi, Aomori, Japan

Not everyone smiles for the camera, but perhaps a grin would seem out of place with the pair of samurai swords.

Hachinohe Enburi, Aomori, Japan