Shunsetsu: Spring Festival 2010 in Kobe's Chinatown
In China, the solar calendar is the standard of the country but the traditional lunar calendar (old calendar) remains the yardstick for farmers and is generally used as well. The first day of each year begins sometime between January 21st and February 20th and begins the celebration called Shunsetsu or Spring Festival. In 2010, the New Year begins on February 14th.
The New Year's festivities associated with Spring Festival are celebrated not only in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea, but are also celebrated with lavish celebrations in every Chinatown around the world. Even in Japan there are various events in several regions of the country.
By custom, Shunsetsu is called "year-passing." There is a legend that "Year" is a fearsome creature with horns in its head. To prevent the "Year" from coming, families paste a red 'Shunren' (a piece of paper with a good luck phrase written on it.) or cut paper (with the Chinese character for "good fortune" pasted upside down) on their door or window on the eve of Chinese New Year's. When the sound of firecrackers is heard, lights are lit and remain lit until midnight. As with the Chinatowns around the world, Kobe's Chinatown, Nankin-machi, has celebrations throughout the town that last for over a week. The bustling activity of songs, dances, ritual dances with lion's masks, dragon dances, acrobatics, and martial arts can be seen with a large number of the citizens participating and a multitude of visitors coming together for a winter's seasonal event in Kobe.
| Dates | February 13th (Sat) to 21st (Sun) |
|---|---|
| Place | Kobe Nankin-machi Plaza |
| Access | Get off at Motomachi Station of JR/Hanshin Railway and walk 5 minutes south. Or get off at Sannomiya Station of Hankyu Railway and walk 10 minutes west. |
Event Schedule for Shunsetsu Festival 2010
The event schedule is subject to change due to rough weather, etc.
| 12:00 | South Dragon Parade (Sannomiya area) |
|---|---|
| 15:15 | Dragon and Lion Dance (North Side of Daimaru Department Store) |
| 16:00 | South Dragon Parade (Motomachi area) |
| 20:00 | Luminous Dragon Dance |
| 10:30 | Divine Service |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Opening Ceremony |
| 11:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 12:00 | Presentation of Historical Personage |
| 12:30 | Parade of Historical Personage |
| 13:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Infant Lion Group) |
| 13:30 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Chinese School Folk Dance Circle) |
| 14:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese School Lion Dance Group) |
| 14:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 15:00 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Dance Group) |
| 15:30 | Dragon and Lion Dance (Hyogo Shogyo High School Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 16:00 | Souvenir Photo with Historical Personage Parade Members |
| 17:00 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Dance Group) |
| 17:30 | Dragon and Lion Dance (Hyogo Shogyo High School Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 18:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 12:00 | North Lion Dance |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 16:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 17:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 18:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 12:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 16:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 17:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 18:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 12:00 | North Lion Dance |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 16:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 17:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 18:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 12:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 16:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 17:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 18:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 12:00 | North Lion Dance |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 16:00 | North Lion Dance |
| 17:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 18:00 | Chinese Acrobatics |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 10:30 | Chinese Kindergarten Children's Performance |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 11:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 12:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 12:30 | Chinese Music (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Musical Instrument Group) |
| 13:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 13:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 14:00 | Chinese Music (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Musical Instrument Group) |
| 14:30 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Dance Group) |
| 15:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 15:30 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 16:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 16:30 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Dance Group) |
| 17:00 | Kakaken (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 18:00 | Dragon Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 20:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 10:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Infant Lion Group) |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 11:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 12:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 12:30 | Chinese Music (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Musical Instrument Group) |
| 13:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 13:30 | Kakaken (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 14:00 | Chinese Music (Kobe Chinese Organization Folk Musical Instrument Group) |
| 14:30 | Chinese Songs [Lu Yi] |
| 15:00 | T'ai-chi (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 15:30 | Kakaken (Soft-Style Martial Arts) |
| 16:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 16:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 17:00 | Chinese Songs [Lu Yi] |
| 18:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Chinese Organization Lion Dance Group) |
| 20:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Nankin-Machi Dragon-Lion Group) |
Address:
"Motoyu Ryuusenkaku - Arima Onsen"
1663, Utsugidani, Arima-cho, Kita-ku,
Kobe City, Hyogo, 651-1401 Japan
Tel: 078-904-0901 Fax: 078-903-0099
E-mail address: ryuusen@skyblue.ocn.ne.jp
Experience the finest in Japanese hospitality complete with relaxing outdoor mineral baths and exquisite Japanese cuisine at Ryuusenkaku.
The Management
Motoyu Ryuusenkaku
