Aomori Nebuta float festival kicks off in northeastern Japan

The annual Aomori Nebuta Festival has kicked off in northeastern Japan on Saturday. The iconic summer event features a procession of huge illuminated floats called "nebuta" that depict historic warriors. Sixteen floats about five meters tall were paraded along a 3-kilometer route to the sounds of drums and flutes. Dancers called "haneto" leapt and shouted. The festival runs through Thursday. Fireworks will light up the final evening, when the floats will be displayed on the ocean.