Shunsetsu: Spring Festival 2015 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 2015, the New Year begins on February 19th (Thursday).
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 19th (Thu) to February 22nd (Sun) *Pre-event show on February 15th (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. |
Schedule (February 15th to February 22nd at Nankin-machi Plaza)
The event schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather, etc.
| 15:00 | South Dragon Parade (until 17:30) |
|---|---|
| 14:45 | Lion Dance |
| 16:00 | Lion Dance (at Center Street on 1F of Umie, Kobe Harborland) |
| 10:30 | Prayer for Safety |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Opening Ceremony |
| 11:15 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 12:00 | Presentation of Historical Personage Parade |
| 13:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 14:00 | Lion Dance & Chinese Dance (Kobe Chinese School Lion Dance Group & Folk Dance Group) |
| 15:00 | T'ai-chi or Soft-Style Martial Arts (Hyogo T'ai-chi Lovers' Society) |
| 16:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 17:00 | Return of Historical Personage Parade |
| 18:00 | Music (Xeno Quartet) |
| 19:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 11:00 | Performance (Kobe Chinese Kindergarten) |
|---|---|
| 11:30 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 12:00 | Erhu or two-stringed musical instrument (Erhu Group "Wamei") |
| 12:30 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 13:00 | Music (JCM Folk Music Band) |
| 13:30 | T'ai-chi or Soft-Style Martial Arts (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association T'ai-chi Society) |
| 14:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 14:30 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 15:00 | T'ai-chi or Soft-Style Martial Arts (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association T'ai-chi Society) |
| 16:00 | Music (Xeno Quartet) |
| 17:00 | Music (JCM Folk Music Band) |
| 18:00 | Dragon & Lion Dance (Kobe Hyogo Shogyo High School Dragon-Lion Group) |
| 19:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Lion Dance Group) |
| 20:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 11:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
|---|---|
| 11:30 | Chinese Music (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Folk Musical Instrument Group "Hualei") |
| 12:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 12:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Lion Dance Group) |
| 13:00 | Kakaken or Soft-Style Martial Arts (Japan Kakaken Association) |
| 13:30 | T'ai-chi or Soft-Style Martial Arts (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association T'ai-chi Society) |
| 14:00 | Chinese Songs [Fan Tan-yang] |
| 14:30 | Chinese Music (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Folk Musical Instrument Group "Hualei") |
| 15:00 | T'ai-chi or Soft-Style Martial Arts (Hyogo T'ai-chi Lovers' Society) |
| 15:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Lion Dance Group Infant Lion Team) |
| 16:00 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Folk Dance Group) |
| 16:30 | Lion Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Lion Dance Group) |
| 17:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 17:00 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Folk Dance Group) |
| 18:00 | Chinese Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Folk Dance Group) |
| 19:00 | Face Changing & Acrobatics (Tokyo China Song & Dance Troupe) |
| 20:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Lion Dance Group) |
| 20:00 | Lion Dance (Kobe Overseas Chinese Association Lion Dance Group) |
|---|---|
| 20:30 | Lion Dance (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
