Nagasaki kunchi 2024

長崎くんち (Nagasaki Kunchi) is a festival held at Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, spanning three days from October 7th to 9th. Designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of Japan (designated in 1979 with the name “Nagasaki Kunchi no Hounou Odori”), it features dynamic performances influenced by Nanban culture, which includes Portugal, the Netherlands, China, and Vietnam.

Distinctive and dynamic dedicatory dances, known as “Ryuuodori” (Dragon Dance), “Kujirano Shibuki” (Spouting of the Whale), “Taikoyama” (Drum Mountain), “Oranda Manzai” (Dutch-style Comic Dance), and “Goshuin-sen” (Stamp Boat), showcase the rich influence of Southern Barbarian (Nanban) and Red Hair cultures. The festival exhibits influences from Kyoto and Sakai, as seen in the hoko (decorated floats), hikiyama (parade floats), and taikoyama.

The name “Kunchi” is said to originate from the festival held on the Double Ninth Festival of the old calendar, which corresponds to September 9th (known as “kunichi” in the dialect of northern Kyushu). While it is sometimes written as “Miyabi” or “Sonohi,” these are later interpretations. The addition of the honorific “o” (お) as seen in “Okunchi” is a later addition to show respect to Suwa Shrine.

Together with Hakata Okunchi (at Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka City) and Karatsu Kunchi (at Karatsu Shrine in Saga City), Nagasaki Kunchi is known as one of Japan’s three major kunchi festivals.

 

 

 

 

Event Summary

Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

Period

October 7-9, 2024

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