Nagasaki Kunchi

Background

Nagasaki Kunchi is the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki, affectionately called "Okunchi" by locals. Tradition holds that it began in 1634, when Takao and Otowa, two courtesans of the Maruyama quarter, performed a komai dance before the deity. The most widely accepted explanation of the name is that "kunchi" comes from "kunichi" (the ninth day), the Chrysanthemum Festival on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. In 1979 its dance offerings were designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property under the name "Dance offerings of Nagasaki Kunchi." The town districts of Nagasaki are divided into seven groups that take turns as the year's performing districts, so each district's turn comes round only about once every seven years. Signature performances include the dragon dance (ja-odori), the spouting whale, the Taikoyama drum float (Kokkodesho), the Oranda Manzai and the vermilion-seal ship, all strongly coloured by Chinese and European influences. When a performance ends, the crowd shouts "Motte koi!" ("Bring it back!") to call the performers back for an encore, the most electric moment of the festival.

Local customs

• Watch the district performances at Suwa Shrine and the other venues
• see signature acts such as the dragon dance and Taikoyama
• join the crowd in shouting "Motte koi!".

Rules that apply here

Travel tips

• Fixed dates: October 7–9 every year (three days), regardless of the weekday. The main venues are Suwa Shrine, the Otabisho, Yasaka Shrine and the Central Park viewing area
• paid seats at each venue are sold by its own organiser, with prices as officially announced, and free viewing on Suwa Shrine's Nagasaka steps requires applying for a lottery in advance. Roads around the venues are closed during the festival, so travel by tram or other public transport.

2027 schedule

• Fixed dates: October 7–9 in 2027
• that year's performing districts and detailed schedule await official announcement.