Overview
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.
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8 - 1Koza: A Rhythm All Its Own January 31, 2017 -
8 - 2Ogawayama: A Rock Climber's Paradise February 07, 2017
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8 - 3Niseko: Snowy Adventures February 14, 2017
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8 - 4Suruga Bay: The Bounty of the Deep February 21, 2017
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8 - 5Tokoname: City of Ceramics Past and Present February 28, 2017
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8 - 6Ibaraki: Savoring Winter Flavors March 07, 2017
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8 - 7Hokkaido: Sculpting Winter's Ice and Snow April 04, 2017
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8 - 8Mt. Norikuradake: A Peak Winter Experience April 11, 2017
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8 - 9Odate: The Land of the Akita Inu April 18, 2017
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8 - 10Oya, Utsunomiya: Stone Town & Quarry Ruins Tour April 25, 2017
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8 - 11Nagoya: Samurai Warlord Chronicles May 02, 2017
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8 - 12Hakuba: Off Piste to a Hidden Hot Spring May 09, 2017
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8 - 13Nara: Ancient Sanctuary for all Living Creatures May 30, 2017
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8 - 14Monobe, Kochi: Tales from the Magical Mountain Hamlet June 20, 2017
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8 - 15Manazuru: Good Living by Design June 27, 2017
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8 - 16Nanyo, Ehime: Water for Life and Fun July 04, 2017 -
8 - 17Meiwa-cho, Mie: An Ancient Legend Comes to Life July 11, 2017
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8 - 18Mount Daisen: Mystical Rites, Local Life July 18, 2017
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8 - 19Murayama, Yamagata: Local Delicacies, Local Pride July 25, 2017
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8 - 20Tottori: Sculpted by Nature August 01, 2017
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8 - 21Deep into the Unspoiled Forest: Shirakami Sanchi August 08, 2017
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8 - 22Yonaguni: Wild West Escapades August 15, 2017
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8 - 23Obuse, Nagano: Walking and Running for Fun August 22, 2017
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8 - 24Taisetsuzan: Summer Alpine Discoveries September 12, 2017
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8 - 25Kochi's Summertime Fever: The Yosakoi! September 19, 2017
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8 - 26Awa Odori Festival: Spirited Away in Tokushima September 26, 2017
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8 - 27Yanai: Old Town of Goldfish Lanterns October 03, 2017
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8 - 28Nagara River: Pristine Beauty, Waterborne Bounty October 10, 2017
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8 - 29Minami-Izu: Unspoiled Seaside Getaway October 17, 2017
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8 - 30A River Runs Through Hokkaido October 24, 2017
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8 - 31Kagoshima: The Taste and Style of "Kuro" Culture November 07, 2017
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8 - 32Kikuma, Ehime: Pride and Pageantry November 21, 2017
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8 - 33Togakushi: Autumn Hues at a Sacred Mountain November 28, 2017
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8 - 34Passage of Time: Lake Towada in Autumn December 05, 2017
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8 - 35Karatsu: Festival Floats, Deep Community Spirit December 12, 2017