Nebuta is a type of summer festival that has been held in Japan since ancient times as one of the Tanabata events on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. Though most of these festivals are held in eastern Japan, they have also been held in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture since the early modern period, and the form of the festival has continued to evolve and develop in this area. The form of the Nebuta that is paraded, the music, and the chants vary depending on the region, but the doll-type Aomori Nebuta floats and lanterns are widely known for their three-dimensional shape assembled in a polyhedral configuration. They make the Aomori parade one of the most spectacular and famous festivals in Japan. Aomori Nebuta and Hirosaki Neputa are famous nationwide and were designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties in 1980.