KUNCHI FESTIVAL --400 YEARS OLD IN NAGASAKI JAPAN

THE KUNCHI FESTIVAL

OF NAGASAKI

A Festival that brings together old Dutch, Chinese and Japanese history over 400 years.

History

The festival is held between the 7th and 9th of October each year and goes back 400 plus years. It is believed that it was to celebrate the Autumn harvests and later became a shrine festival when the Suwa Shrine was foundered in 1642. It is claimed that there was another purpose and that was to expose hidden Christains as Christianity had been banned.Even today the customer of 'garden showing' exists were people open up their gardens for inspection.

The Origon of the Name

It is believed the Kunchi comes from thje words KU-NICHI which refers to the 9th day of the 9th month (Lunar Calendar)

What Happens

It is one big party over the three days with each district ( Odori Cho) providing floats, dragon dances and dancing and other events through the streets and at a number of areas where you pay to enter.I am told it is impossible for foreigners to books seats as the place gets packed with locals and unless you were fluent in Japanese it would not be understandable. There is enough activity through the streets to get the feel for what is going on.

Some 5-7 areas of Nagasaki are involved each year and they rotate and present every seven years which keeps the floats and activities fresh and competitive.Most of the floats are in the form of elaborate and well decorated ships.Each float and group walk the street and bless ech store holder.

Nagasaki is a fascinating place with loads of character and history and reflects the European and Chinese cutltures of the past. We were fortunate to be there on one day of the festival. Book hotels well in advance as accommodation is tight.

We stayed at Hotel Forza Nagaszki in avvery interesting shopping market. It was Japanese style but clean and comfortable.