Both the Nebuta-nagashi Festival (Nebuta) in Aomori City and the Neburi-nagashi Festival (the former name of the Kanto Lantern Festival) in Akita City are believed to be part of Tanabata (Star Festival), but they were originally events held to overcome sleepiness so as to prevent calamities.
青森市のねぶた流し（ねぶた）や秋田市のねぶり流し（竿灯の旧名）はいずれも七夕行事に属すると考えられているが、元来は眠気払いの除災行事の性格を持っていた。