Ishinomaki Mill of Nippon Paper Industries participates in the Ishinomaki River Opening Festival every August.
Although there were concerns that not many people would show because of the longer rainy season this year, in fact a large number of people got together at the center of the city to enjoy the festival. After a cloudy August 1, the second day of August dawned fine and sunny.
The fireworks event attracted 190,000 people and the festival, including the eve party, drew 300,000 visitors.
In the final of Magobe Boat Race, the team called Splash from Paper Making Section I of Ishinomaki Mill finished third.
At the end of the festival, 1700 dancers of 27 teams in team yukata or happi coat outfits performed Tairyo dancing (a dance to celebrate a good catch of fish). One hundred and sixty dancers took part from Ishinomaki Mill as well, including Mr. Kaneko, the general manager of the mill. They danced to the light of a bonfire and the sound of Japanese drums and calls. The dancers enjoyed a summer evening together with the large audience watching along the street.
The Mill will deepen friendship with the community through participation in such events as festivals.

Tairyo dancing		Excited Magobe Boat Race