Events in Japan

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival
Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki
October, 2010

The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival is a 3 day annual event at the Suwa Shrine. The festival is a collection of performances, parades with massive floats and traditional rituals. The event everyone looks forward to each year is the Hono-Odori. Each year the towns in charge (Odori-cho) take turn presenting there dance in the square of the City Public Hall.

The November Basho
Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Fukuoka
November 14 - November 28, 2010

The Fukuoka Kokusai Center is where the greatest Sumo wrestlers in Japan, and therefore the world meet for the November Basho. This is one of the year’s six Grand Tournaments taking place in Japan. Seeing Sumo in person is quite a sight. The men are literal giants and they are trained to eject one another from the four and a half meter circle or throw each other to the hard clay floor. Make sure you order tickets early, these events tend to sell out very quickly.

Setagaya Boro Ichi
Boroichi-dori Street
December, 2010

Setagaya Boro Ichi is one of Japan’s largest antique flea markets. Hundreds of dealers set up on Boroichi-dori Street to sell their wares. Over 400 years ago a rakuichi market for unlicensed merchants was set up to add prosperity to this small castle town. Now this event has become more of a legend in itself, to say nothing of the amazing food stalls scattered amongst the many antiques.