Japanese festivals, or matsuri , are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with dance and music in Japan. The origin of the word matsuri is related to the kami ; there are theories that the word matsuri is derived from matsu (待つ) meaning "to wait ", tatematsuru (献る) meaning "to make offerings to the kami", and matsurau (奉う) meaning "to obey the kami". The theory that it is derived from matsurau is the most popular.