The 2017 Nishinoomote Gun Festival (鉄砲祭)


August 23, 2017
T.G.I. Staff Lucas

Summer in Japan is the season of festivals. Life on Tanegashima is no different. Each part of the island with their own distinct flavor makes weekends in August a real event for all. The city of Nishinoomote has hosted the "Teppo Matsuri" (gun festival) every year now for the past 48 years to commemorate the first contact with the western world, and the entrance of firearms that would not only change the future of the island of Tanegashima, but the future of the mainland of Japan!


Every year the festival begins with a large parade that goes down the main-street of Nishinoomote. Here you will see the usual "omikoshi" (carrying out of the portable shrine), students of all ages representing the different clubs they belong in, musical floats being pulled along by cars, and of course the firing of guns! Because the parade includes everyone from Nishinoomote, there will be breaks between the floats and those walking while the next group gets rotated in. The parade will usually run from 9:00 to 14:00.

After the parade everyone will go home and get ready for the second part of the festival. Down by the port, on the water there is a park called, "Ni-Po Koen". (Ni for Nihon = Japan / Po for Portugal - the first western country to have contact with Japan.) Here is where the night show takes place. Starting at 18:00 the food and game vendors open up and the stage lights up. There are local singers, musicians, dancers, as well as special guests showing up from off island. The entertainment is finished off with a great fireworks show provided by local sponsors.

While this years show is finished, I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity in the future to visit and take part in the festivities to please check it out!



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