Haneto Costume
The haneto (festival dancers) are required to wear a certain type of costume, as specified by the Nebuta Festival’s preservation society. The costume consists mainly of a yukata (lightweight summer kimono); the haneto fold the fabric at the waist to shorten the yukata to knee-level to allow for all the kicking and dancing. The costume is secured around the waist with a belt and a yellow waistband. To secure the long, loose sleeves, a bright length of cloth is wrapped around the shoulders and tied in the back with a bow. Tied up with distinctive, bright fabric, the costume is donned in such a way that nothing will come apart in the middle of the parade.
The full costume consists of the yukata and accessories, along with footwear, bells, and a hanagasa (flower hat). Footwear is limited to tabi (traditional split toe socks) and zori (thonged straw sandals). Haneto dancers pin small bells to their costume so when they jump and dance, the bells ring in unison. Topping off the whole costume is a hanagasa, an elaborate triangular straw hat decorated with bright flowers.