Nagasaki Kunchi Festival 長崎くんち　ながさきくんち

About the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival is held from October 7th through 9th every year. It got its name from being originally held on the 9th day of the 9th month according to the ancient Chinese calendar. When the change to the Gregorian calendar occurred to keep the actual day the new date became October 7th through 9th. The name ‘Kunchi’ is a local contraction of the Japanese words ‘Kyu (nine) Nichi (day)’.

There are several groups performing their own dances over the three days with mikoshi carrying and other activities. There is a mikoshi carrying parade from Suwa shrine, through various parts of the city. Four places have special performances: Suwa shrine, Otabisho, Yaksaka shrine, and Chuo Koen (Central Park). However, some of them require tickets, which are only available through Japanese only websites and they sell out weeks in advance. Apparently outside Nagasaki station is a free viewing area, but the good spots get taken over very quickly.

Multiculturalism from Way Back in the Day

Apparently the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival got its start when two prostitutes danced in front of Suwa shrine about five hundred years ago. I can only imagine what their dance must have been like to set off a city wide festival that is still going on to this day! As Nagasaki was the main international port for all of Japan during a good part of the Edo period, there are some foreign influences. For example, Dutch derived additions to the mikoshi and giant structures as well as Dutch comedic influences. It is all in good fun.