2025 Nagasaki Kunchi Festival, Enozu Town, River Boat @ Suwa Shrine
The dedication dance from Enozu Town was truly amazing!
Conclusion: "Net casting! Clockwise rotation! It was a fantastic performance!"
It was an amazing experience to be able to watch the
Nagasaki Kunchi festival in 2025 from a special seat on the right side
of Suwa Shrine! My wife's acquaintance was also participating, so we
cheered them on!
The power and excitement of the Enozu Town performance,
"Kawafune" (river boats), unfolding right before our eyes was amazing!
First, the elegant umbrella poles entered the stage. The
decorations, decorated with a pair of sea bream, and the hangings with a
picture of a horse dressed for yabusame, built up anticipation for the
powerful performance that was about to begin.
Once again, this umbrella pole spins well!!
▼Enozu Town Riverboat
And finally, the main attraction, the river boat, appears!
The boat, made entirely of plain cypress wood, has a
dignified presence that evokes the weight of history, and the maple
leaves and white chrysanthemums decorating the roof create an autumn
festival atmosphere. The massive boat, weighing approximately 3 tons and
6 meters long, is powerfully pulled around by Nebikishu (traditional
Japanese sculptors) dressed in navy blue with white wave patterns.
The boat repeatedly moves forward and backward, which is
said to represent the boat being tossed about by a rapid current! The
climax is the "fast boat turn," where the boat turns around in one go
without stopping!
Every time the "Midigiri" (right turn), a tradition that
Enozu Town has continued to preserve, was performed with great energy
and agility, shouts of "Bring it on!" and thunderous applause erupted
from the stands. I was simply overwhelmed by the spirit and speed of the
Nebiki group.
It was Enozu Town's majestic river boat that created a frenzy in the Suwa Forest!
Being so close to the stage in the box seats allowed us to
feel the passion and weight of tradition firsthand, making it a truly
memorable and wonderful dedication dance!
Thank you for reading to the end!
Thank you for your continued support!
