Japan's Iconic Akita Kanto Festival Lights up Tainan’s Nan Ying International Folklore Celebration

TAINAN, Taiwan--( BUSINESS WIRE )-- To preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of various countries while building ties through citizen diplomacy, the 2024 Nan Ying International Folklore Festival is set to kick off on Oct. 5 featuring exceptional performances. A total of 21 international groups from 18 countries will gather in Tainan, Taiwan, for a nine-day celebration that highlights the vibrancy and beauty of global folk art. The Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tainan City Government, has also arranged for several outstanding local Taiwanese art groups, schools, and communities to participate in interactive exchanges, making this event a significant milestone for the revival of international artistic collaboration in Tainan following the Covid-19 pandemic.

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As part of Japan’s important intangible cultural heritage, an official delegation of the Akita Kanto Festival, in Taiwan for the first time under the leadership of Akita Mayor Motomu Hozumi, will take part in this year’s Nan Ying International Folklore Festival, which will begin in Tainan on Oct. 5. Its giant 12-meter-tall kanto, or bamboo poles with lanterns, is a highlight of Taiwan’s longest-running festival of its kind that must not be missed. (Photo: Business Wire)

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che announced that the Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals from Japan's Tohoku region, has been invited to join this year’s Nan Ying International Folklore Festival. Not only is this a key highlight of the festival, but it also marks the first official delegation from the Akita Kanto Festival to perform in Taiwan.

The Akita Kanto Festival, recognized as an important intangible folk cultural heritage of Japan, brings its rich cultural heritage to Tainan, Taiwan's cultural capital, in a significant cultural exchange between the two nations. Notably, Mayor Motomu Hozumi of Akita City, who is leading the delegation, will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tainan, paving the way for future collaborations between the two cities.

Hsieh Shih-yuan, Director General of Tainan City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau, highlighted that the Nan Ying International Folklore Festival is Taiwan's oldest folk performing arts festival, having been inaugurated in 1996 and now approaching its 30th anniversary. This year also commemorates the 400th anniversary of Fort Zeelandia in Anping, built by the Dutch, highlighting a significant moment for Tainan to reflect on its historical growth. Over the past few centuries, different ethnic groups have engaged in rich interactions in this region. Serving as a vital hub for folk, artistic, and cultural exchanges between various countries and Tainan, the Nan Ying International Folklore Festival showcases exceptional artistic groups from all five continents, including Japan, Paraguay, Italy, Algeria, and New Zealand. These interactions foster a deep cultural connection with Tainan, allowing international teams to experience Taiwan and Tainan’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

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