Happy new year!

Here's part of an e-mail announcement from the International Center:

"This event is hold to raise morale, keep discipline and to raise awareness of disaster prevention for citizens. This year marching parades and exhibition of firefighting vehicles will be conducted.
January, 7th (Sun) 10:00 am - 11:30 am, at Shirakawa riverbed (between Shirakawa Bridge and Taihei Bridge)
※This event will be canceled in case of heavy rain.
Firefighter Marching Parade, members and firefighting vehicles, inspection by mayor.
Shishimai · Performance · Taiko · Woodwind song · Ladder riding, All-out watering"

http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/topics/topics_detail.asp?PageID=5&ID=9600&pg=1&sort=0&LC=e

The following page has the same information in Japanese:
http://www.city.kumamoto.jp/hpkiji/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=5&type=top&id=17768

Here's the URL of a web page in English about a similar event in the Tokyo area:
https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/festival/dezomeshiki.html

-- Kirk