NAGASAKI -- The Nagasaki Lantern Festival, a dazzling winter tradition here, began on Jan. 29, illuminating this southwest Japan city with around 15,000 lanterns.

Lighting ceremonies were held at venues including Minato Park, Chuo Park, Shinchimachi Chinatown, and the Hamaichi Arcade, where attendees cheered as large objects and lanterns lit up. Yuma Iwashita, an 18-year-old senior at Kaisei High School, visited Minato Park and shared, "I wanted to imprint the lighting ceremony in my memory since I plan to move out of the prefecture for further studies in April. The lanterns in the city that I see on the way back from school are so beautiful."

The festival runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Feb. 12. Visitors can enjoy performances like erhu music -- played on a traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument -- and dragon dances at places including Minato Park and Chuo Park. Highlights include the "Emperor Parade" on Feb. 1 and 8, and the Mazu procession on Feb. 2 and 9.

(Japanese original by Rika Hyakuta, Nagasaki Bureau)