NAGASAKI -- Nagasaki Kunchi, a traditional Japanese festival designated as a major intangible folk cultural asset by the national government, began at Suwa Shrine and its vicinity in this southwestern Japan on Oct. 7.

The festival is said to have a history of more than 390 years dating back to the Edo period (1603-1867). Districts in the city of Nagasaki known as "odori-cho" oversee the lively dancing on a rotational basis. Six districts are taking part for the first time in 10 years during this event.

On the first day, they presented performances with an exotic flair, including scenes in which performers dressed in Chinese-style clothing transformed the surroundings into a distinctly Chinese setting, as well as dances featuring the Seven Lucky Gods in elaborate costumes.

Among them, the "Jaodori" dragon dance performed by the Chikugomachi district featured three blue and white dragons swirling wildly to the sounds of trumpets, gongs and drums. Spectators who had gathered from early morning shouted "Mottekoi," a chant that means "encore."

Izumi Yamaguchi, a 21-year-old resident of the city who said they attend the festival every year, smiled and said, "The performances were incredibly powerful. I shouted 'Mottekoi' so much that I lost my voice."

The dance districts normally take turns performing once every seven years, but the rotation was delayed by three years due to factors including the coronavirus pandemic. The festival runs through Oct. 9.

(Japanese original by Naoki Soeya, Nagasaki Bureau)