The Dec. 14 Lower House snap election is posing a headache for municipalities nationwide planning to organize annual festivals and sports events.
They are being dealt with a double punch — while they need to secure staff enough to manage those events, the municipalities are also required to oversee the national election.
In Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, every Dec. 14 is the day for the city's Ako Gishi Festival, which has been held to glorify Ako's famous 47 Ronin — a tale of clansmen who took their revenge on an a court official in Edo in 1703 after their lord was forced to perform harakiri.