Karatsu Kunchi
Karatsu Kunchi is the annual autumn festival held from November 2 to 4. It is a lively event where festival floats are paraded around to the accompaniment of chants like “Enya, Enya” or “Yoisa, yoisa.”
The festival began in 1819, inspired by the Gion Festival in Kyoto. Now, there are 14 floats in store. The floats are designated as important cultural assets, and the festival is recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
English Official Site about Karatsu: Karatsu https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Karatsu Shrine https://www.karatsu-jinja.org/kunti
Hikiyama Floats
Hikiyama floats are made using the technique of dry lacquer. The process involves creating a clay base, covering it with 200 layers of Japanese paper and lacquer, and repeating this process 7 or 8 times. The final touches include paintings and gold or silver leaf. The float is placed on a cart with wheels and pulled by tens of people using two 100-meter ropes.
1 The Red lion (赤獅子) built by the Katana-machi district (1819)
2 The Green lion (中町の青獅子) built by the Naka-machi district (1824)
3 The Turtle and Urashima Taro (カメと浦島太郎) by the Zaimoku-machi district (1841) It was not Taro originally but a gem on the turtle when it was first built.
4 Samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune’s Kabuto (源義経の兜) by Gofuku-machi (1844)
5 The Sea bream(鯛) by Uoya-machi (1845)
6 The Phoenix-shaped ship (鳳凰丸) by Oishi-machi (1846)
7 The Flying dragon (飛龍) by Shin-machi (1846)
8 The Golden lion (金獅子) by Hom-machi (1847)
9 ‘Takeda Shingen’s Kabuto (武田信玄の兜) by Kiwata-machi (1864)
10 ‘Uesugi Kenshin’s Kabuto (上杉謙信の兜) by Hirano-machi (1869)
11 The Drunken ogre on Minamoto Yorimitsu’s Kabuto (酒呑童子と源頼光の兜) (1869)
12 The Lion on an orb (珠取獅子) by Kyo-machi (1875)
13 The Tiger-headed orca(鯱) by Kako-machi (1876)
14 The Boat of seven treasures (七宝丸) by Egawa-machi (1876)
