"Part ritual, part festival and part competition, kanto is a centuries-old display of strength, skill and culture unique to Akita Prefecture, in northern Japan's Tohoku region. Traditionally, only men are allowed to touch the poles. Women play flutes and drums. Kanto practitioners believe that women cannot participate because, according to Japan's Shinto religious beliefs, women's blood from menstruation and childbirth is considered spiritually impure."
"Akita itself is emblematic of Japan's 21st century demographic challenges: It has the most aged population (39% were over age 65 in 2024), the lowest birth rate and the fastest declining population of Japan's 47 prefectures, according to government figures. Gender inequality is accelerating depopulation in rural areas like this. A Japanese government report on inequality published in June found that 27% of young women want to leave their hometowns, compared to 15% of young men"
Young men in Akita perform kanto, balancing heavy bamboo poles with candlelit lanterns; the ritual traditionally excludes women, who play flutes and drums, because Shinto beliefs view menstrual and childbirth blood as spiritually impure. Some women accept or refrain from criticizing those gender divisions. Akita has Japan's most aged population (39% over 65 in 2024), the lowest birth rate and the fastest population decline among prefectures. Gender inequality is accelerating rural depopulation: a June government report found 27% of young women want to leave their hometowns, compared to 15% of young men, and most women move to cities for employment, with a gender angle to those moves.
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