Journeys in Japan

Season 8 Episode 35: Karatsu: Festival Floats, Deep Community Spirit

Karatsu Kunchi is a three-day festival held in November each year in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. The highlight is the gigantic floats known as hikiyama that are hauled through the streets of the old town. This tradition has a history dating back more than 300 years. In 2016, the festival was included in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Kyle Card visits Karatsu to discover the spirit of Kunchi. He observes the 14 floats, which each belong to a different neighborhood. And he meets some of the men who make this event happen.

Genre:

Documentary

Seasons:

17

Episodes:

551

Cast:

Bill Sullivan

Quality:

HD

Duration:

28 min

First Air:

2010

Rating:

9.0