The Chiba Prefectural Government will display lanterns, including one featuring the prefecture’s popular mascot “CHI-BA+KUN,” and set up a public relations booth at the venue of the upcoming Taiwan Lantern Festival, one of the largest tourism events in the region.

Other lanterns to be exhibited include those featuring a lighthouse, a fishing boat and “tairyo-bata” flags signifying a good catch.

The Choshi Hane-daiko Preservation Society, a cultural organization in Chiba Prefecture, will give dynamic performances of “Choshi Hane-daiko” festival drums on the main stage of the lantern festival as part of efforts to publicize Chiba attractions.

In December 2018, CHI-BA+KUN, which is also popular in Taiwan, visited the World Flower Expo underway in Taichung to deepen friendship with local people.

( Photos: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/201902153227?p=images )

*Choshi Hane-daiko:

- Choshi Hane-daiko is a festival drum that has been handed down through generations only in the city of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture since the Edo Period (1603-1867). Two players hoist a drum and keep beating it while repeatedly jumping and crawling on the ground.

- The Choshi Hane-daiko Preservation Society consists of about 40 members from infants to those in their 70s. They have appeared in TV commercials and participated in various events, international friendship programs and volunteer activities. The society visited Taiwan twice in 2013 and gave performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8A1Jk83wzY

Chiba Prefecture’s PR activities during the festival

(1) Displaying Chiba Prefecture lanterns

Period: Feb. 19-March 3, 2019

Details: The display of lanterns featuring CHI-BA+KUN, a drum, Cape Inubo Lighthouse, a fishing boat and “tairyo-bata” flags signifying a good catch.

(2) Establishment of Chiba Prefecture PR booth

Period: Feb. 19-21 (16:00-21:00)

Details: Taking snapshots with CHI-BA+KUN, displaying posters on Chiba Prefecture and Choshi City and distributing pamphlets, etc.

(3) PR event on main stage

Period: Feb. 20 (17:00-17:30)

(4) PR event during parades

Period: Feb. 19 ( 14:30-15:10 / tentative schedule )

Feb. 20 ( 20:20-20:50 / tentative schedule )

Feb. 21 ( 20:20-20:50 / tentative schedule )

Details: Members of the Choshi Hane-daiko Preservation Society will parade for a distance of about 1 kilometer while giving performances.