Chinese New Year Lion Dance

Colorful lion dance at lantern festival in Nagasaki

Takako Sakamoto Mar 10, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>A special stage for Chinese Lion Dance was set inside Minato-koen Park</p>

<p>This lion is completely different from the Japanese traditional one that bit my head when I was a child!</p>

<p>A young boy watching the lion dance from his father's shoulders stirred my half-forgotten memories</p>

<p>The lion dance climaxed with a loud bang!</p>

<p>Rows of food stalls standing in front of the lion dance stage</p>

<p>Chinatown's Suzaku Gate, which faces Minato-koen Park, is said to invite fire</p>

<p>Perhaps the four lions are tired of dancing?</p>

<p>It was close to 10 P.M., the lights-off time! An announcement urged spectators to hurry up and take final photos.</p>

On Feburuary 21st in 2015, I watched a Chinese Lion Dance on a special stage set in Minato-koen Park near Shinchi Chinatown, the main venue of Nagasaki Lantern Festival. I felt drawn to these friendly looking, colorful lions. They reminded me of a time when a Japanese traditional lion bit my head and terrified me as a child. I was amazed to see the total difference between Japanese and Chinese lions! As I enjoyed the impressive light sculptures and brilliant lanterns I noticed a boy riding on his father's shoulders and watching lion dance with wonder in his eyes.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival Series

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...