The Chiba Prefectural Government will display lanterns, including one featuring the prefecture’s mascot “CHI-BA+KUN,” and set up a public relations booth at the venue of the upcoming festival. On the festival’s main stage, the prefecture will show a chainsaw carving * performance by a Japanese artist who won the world chainsaw carving championships and hold a quiz event by CHI-BA+KUN to publicize the attractions of the prefecture. It will be the first time for Chiba Prefecture to show a chainsaw carving performance in Taiwan.

(Photo1: https://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102229/201802271336/_prw_PI1fl_xQrV53Mp.jpg)

(Photo2: https://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102229/201802271336/_prw_OI3fl_YbyaZQAo.jpeg)

* Chainsaw carving

In chainsaw carving, an artist uses a chainsaw to dynamically and speedily process a piece of raw wood or an ice block into a sophisticated sculpture. In the upcoming festival, artist Hiromu Kurita, a resident of Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, who won the Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship for three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009, will process Taiwan-produced cedar wood into a sculpture featuring the city of Chiayi.

Details of Chiba Prefectural Government’s PR activities

(1) Exhibition of lanterns produced in Chiba Prefecture

- Period: From Friday, February 16, to Sunday, March 11, 2018

- Details: Lanterns featuring CHI-BA+KUN, "CHI-BA+BERRY," a new strawberry variety produced in Chiba Prefecture, and a trolley-style excursion train traveling along farmland filled with yellow field mustard flowers will be on display.

(2) Chiba Prefecture’s PR booth

- Period: From Friday, March 2, to Sunday, March 4, 2018

- Details: Distribution of pamphlets and novelty goods, and showing of videos, etc., intended to publicize Chiba Prefecture.

(3) PR event on the main stage

- Period: Saturday, March 3, beginning at 7 p.m.

- Overview: A dynamic chainsaw carving demonstration by world-renowned artist Hiromu Kurita is expected to attract attention from visitors. CHI-BA+KUN will also appear on stage and hold a quiz event on Chiba to introduce the attractions of the prefecture to visitors. Those giving correct answers to the quiz will be presented with special goods that are available only at the festival venue.