Japan. Many picnickers arrive before dawn and set down blue tarps and then remain until dusk, grilling out and drinking sake. Gongo Festival (First Saturday and Sunday of August) - The Gongo, or Kappa, is a fictitious animal said to live in rivers. The festival is based around the legend that the Gongo can be seen in the Yoshii River in summer. Local people congregate on the banks of the river wearing traditional Japanese clothing and eat and drink at the many temporary stalls set up there. The festival culminates in a spectacular firework display on the Sunday evening. Tsuyama Autumn Festival (Mid to late October) - Many people parade through the town pulling danjiri. Lion Dance Festival (October 17) - The Lion Dance Festival, held at Takata Shrine, began around 710 A.D. to thank the gods for a good harvest. A male and female lion, each controlled by twelve dancers, perform a soul-stirring dance imitating a struggle. The lions keep time with a flute and drum. The dance is believed to drive away the devil and impurity. Old Izumo Street Festival (Beginnining of November on Sunday) - A festival on Joto Street during which they wear traditional clothes and open a theater, tea houses, and various stalls. Notable people from Tsuyama Yusuke Kodama, professional wrestler Joe Odagiri, actor Koshi Inaba, vocalist of B'z Shun Yashiro, actor Shinji Takahashi, baseball player Ayane Sakurano, actress Hiranuma Kiichirō, pre World War II right-wing politician References External links Tsuyama City official website , and some information in English Tsuyama tourism information , from the Japan National Tourism Organization Tsuyama High School with some information in English Tsuyama National College of Technology with some information in English Cities in Okayama Prefecture