The Asakusa Samba Carnival is one of Tokyo's more lively and popular summer festivals. It attracts 500,000 visitors each year.
The festival has been held at the end of August since 1981. The one exception was 2011 when the festival was canceled due to the impact of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
Samba is a surprisingly common hobby in Tokyo. Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan. As a result, there are strong cultural ties between the two countries.
The parade features thousands of musicians and dancers in elaborate costumes. It's led by the Queen of the Drums (Rainha de Bateria) who can be recognized by her ornate costume (and sash).
The Asakusa Samba Carnival is a team dance competition with around 20 teams competing. Each dance team is led by their prospective candidates for next year's Queen of the Drums. These group leaders bear flags and have the most lavish costumes of each team.