「上檜木內的放紙氣球」

上桧木内の 紙風船上げ
紙氣球在冬季夜空中釋放柔和光芒。前往秋田縣仙北市的「上檜木內的放紙氣球」，就能遇見夢幻的世界！上檜木內的放紙氣球是一年到頭舉辦的夢幻活動，紙氣球陸續升上漆黑的夜空。大的紙氣球長8公尺。每年約施放100個紙氣球。紙氣球和熱氣球一樣，是藉由其中的熱空氣上升。

The “Paper Balloon Festival of Kamihinokinai,” held in the area of Kamihinokinai in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, is a mysterious event here with a long history. The flame lit in the night sky of winter symbolizes the wish of people. Paper balloons soar high up into the sky in the beautiful and sublime atmosphere.

紙氣球上描繪著在版畫等常見的傳統武士和美女的圖案，其中也有寫著人們的願望的紙氣球。這是因為此活動以祈願為目的。從前大多祈求豐收和健康，但是人們最近也開始祈求交通安全和考試合格等。人們的心願寄託於紙氣球，隨風飛向星空。

The Paper Balloon Festival of Kamihinokinai is a very fantastical annual event where paper balloons float up into the dark night sky one after another. Large paper balloons are as long as 8 meters. About 100 paper balloons are launched every year. Just like hot-air balloons, the paper balloons float up from the heated air inside.

放紙氣球於每年2月10日舉辦。時間從18點至20點30分。尤其是18點和19點，許多紙氣球一起施放，能夠看到最夢幻的景象。此外，如果在17點之前抵達會場，任誰都能免費在紙氣球上寫願望，參加這項傳統活動。

Paper balloons include the design of samurai or beautiful women often seen in traditional wood-block prints drawn on the surface, but some of them have the wishes of people written on them. This is because the purpose of this event is to make a wish. Many wishes were related to a good harvest and good health before, but nowadays people wish for road safety and success in exams as well. Wishes of people fly up into the starry sky, swaying in the wind on paper balloons.