BambooNight (Takeyoi) in Usuki City

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By Taiki Kawasaki (The Fountain staff)
November 4, 2018


The spirit of Princess Hannya taken on board a ship arrived at Usuki City illuminated with traditional bamboo lights in Nov. 3 and 4. However, her spirit will not come there truly. In fact, BambooNight is an annual festival which has been held for 22 years in Usuki City to imitate her parade with her followers. Variety of volunteers who come from schools, homes for elderly people, companies, and so on make bamboo lamps to light up Usuki. In addition, this event allows people to enjoy music concerts, food stands, and dance performance.

Focusing on the story about Princess Hannya, this legend dates back over 1500 years. Princess Hannya was known for her beauty, and Prince who saw picture of her fell in love, and he married with her by being a cowherd in Usuki. However, royal family made him return to their city soon, and Hannya went after him by the boat, then sudden storm eventually killed her. Her parents and Usuki citizens fell in deep sorrow, and they hoped her soul to come back to Usuki. Finally, her spirit returned there at an autumn night when bamboo lights illuminated the city, and BambooNight imitates this story.

Bamboo lamps are not just lamps, but they are often made as art works and each of them have some message. For example, Usuki high school which are participants say their theme is Lotus, because they hope Usuki will defeat difficulties and develope like a lotus flower whose garden is famous in Usuki city.

Moreover, a lot of organizations such as local communities, companies and musicians join and make the event exiting. In this year, especially, a dance performance, Suikyou is remarkable. Suikyou will have performances of contemporary dance as an opening ceremony in a historical townscape.

As a supplement, Usuki City always choose actors of the parade from general people, and each actors is decided their age. For example, only teenaged girls can be princess in this festival.

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