Organizers of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, which gets underway this Sunday, will not allow much-awaited floats based on "Star Wars" characters to parade on the city's streets, fearing they go against the festival's cultural tradition and would attract too many visitors, causing turmoil.

Residents who had been hoping the floats would become a good opportunity to promote the city said they were disappointed by the decision.

Organizers announced in July that Nebuta floats depicting characters from the popular "Star Wars" movies would appear in this year's festival.