Hikkawase at Kawagoe festival

The highlight of the Kawagoe festival is what is called 'hikkawase'. Hikkawase is like a festival float showdown! Two festival floats from different districts try to outperform each other in their performance and their cheering. In this video you can see the masked performer on one of the floats using his fan to encourage the lantern bearers below to cheer. Watch how they crouch then rise while cheering loudly and sway their lanterns.