As the temperature rises and languid, lazy days melt into humid nights, Japan shifts gear, readying itself for the plethora of local matsuri ceremonies that blossom across the nation in the months ahead.
Matsuri, or festivals, are provincial gatherings usually held on Shinto or Buddhist days of significance, and whole towns come alive with dancing and drinking. Usually reserved townsfolk drop their inhibitions to join celebrations that can last until the early hours of the morning.
Festivals are the best place to see and experience modern trends intermingling seamlessly with traditional legacies. People dress in kimono, summer yukata and happi coats, but fashions frequently reflect this year's trends (Harper's Bazaar's Japan edition tells us that a "yesteryear, duo tone" look will be the look this summer).