Editorial photo #13668323 Human Interest
Over 1.6 Million Gather As 5,000 Dancers Close Hiroshima Flower Festival
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN - MAY 5: A performer from the Hazuki troupe performs a ritualistic 'head bite' with a traditional shishimai (lion dance) mask on a spectator for good luck during the final day of the Hiroshima Flower Festival on May 5, 2026, in Hiroshima, Japan. A massive crowd of over 1.6 million visitors gathered over the three-day event to observe the festivities, which concluded today with the dynamic Performance Parade and the 'Fire Finale,' an annual Golden Week tradition that promotes peace and culture featuring over 5,000 dancers. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)