Difficulties and Resilience in Local Communities Revealed by COVID-19: A Case Study on the Cancellation and Resumption of Festivals in Local Towns

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on people’s activities in local communities, how residents attempted to resume their activities during the period, and how these activities changed compared to pre-pandemic conditions, focusing on traditional festivals in local towns and folk performing arts in villages. In particular, the paper discusses the following three issues. (1) What impact did COVID-19 have on the community of residents through festivals and on the relationship between residents and other local community actors? (2) Why and how were festival practices resumed early in some areas? (3) What impact has COVID-19 had in the present now that festivals have resumed?