The Chiba Prefectural Government will take part in the Taiwan Lantern Festival, one of Taiwan's biggest tourism events, along with Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, at the invitation of the government of Yunlin County, Taiwan.

(Photo1: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102229/201702088627/_prw_PI1fl_1d9931e0.png)

At the festival venue, lanterns will be displayed and a booth operated to promote Chiba Prefecture and Tateyama City. There will be such stunts on stage as traditional martial art demonstrations with swords by "Kontou-ryu-shikikai," a swordplay training school headed by Tomotaka Tonuma who is Japan's only sword-fight choreographer with an artificial leg.

Disguised as samurai warlords and others, Chiba Prefecture's mascot character CHI-BA+KUN and Tateyama City's mascot character DAPPEE will take part in a parade and other events.

(Photo2: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102229/201702088627/_prw_PI2fl_UqMbsuL3.jpg)

(Photo3: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102229/201702088627/_prw_PI3fl_kR3QxxNK.jpg)

Chiba Prefecture PR activities

(1) Displaying Chiba Prefecture lanterns

Date: Saturday, February 11 - Sunday, February 19, 2017

Themes: CHI-BA+KUN, DAPPEE and Princess Fuse, the heroine of "Nanso Satomi Hakkenden," an epic novel about eight samurai based in southern Chiba, as well as Tateyama Castle with cherry trees in full bloom.

(2) Chiba Prefecture booth operations

Date: Saturday, February 11 - Monday, February 13, 2017

Activities: Distributing brochures and novelties to promote Chiba Prefecture and Tateyama City, screening videos and conducting other activities

(3) Parade and main-stage event

Date: Parade on Saturday, February 11, 2017; Main-stage event on Sunday, February 12, 2017

Outline: CHI-BA+KUN, DAPPEE and a samurai squad clad in handmade armor will take part in a parade with sword fight and dance performances along the way by "Kontou-ryu-shikikai" members. On the main stage, an event will be held to promote Tateyama City, where the story of "Nanso Satomi Hakkenden" unfolds. This event will be also accompanied by sword fight and dance performances by "Kontou-ryu-shikikai."

"NANSO SATOMI HAKKENDEN" http://www.city.tateyama.chiba.jp/hakubutukan/page000656.html