Across Japan, people are enjoying large-scale summer events for the first time since 2019 after COVID restrictions were lifted earlier this year. Many venues are bustling with excitement.

The Awa Odori dance festival in the western city of Tokushima drew a large crowd on Saturday. Some groups of dancers returned for the first time in four years.

One female dancer said, "We're having more visitors from outside Tokushima, so we want to entertain them with our dancing."

Last year, the organizer reduced the seating area for spectators to around 75 percent. That restriction was lifted this year, but COVID cases surged after last year's festival.
Local authorities are calling for caution and giving out free test kits to visitors.

In the capital, people formed long lines to join another annual event.

The Comic Market, or Comiket draws fans of manga, anime and cosplay. It's the biggest event of its kind in Japan.

A visitor from the UK said, he wants to try to find some manga for friends back home.

The event organizer says there were 130,000 visitors on Saturday, the first day of the two-day event.