Dokkoisho! Since 1634, the Kunchi Festival in Nagasaki has filled the air with the chants and songs of traditional Japanese cheer. Each prefecture hosts the proceedings just once every seven years, long awaiting the chance to impress and amaze with dazzling jaodori dragon dances and a fleet of colourful floats, mimicking the seafaring vessels of Japanese legend.

Originating in a time when most international arrivals to Japan were from the Netherlands and China, it’s no surprise that some of the festival’s floats are inspired by the same foreign ships that reached Japan’s shores all those years ago. Even the name, Kunchi, is derived from Chinese celebrations on the ninth day (ku-nichi) of the ninth month of each lunar year.

Lasting three days from Oct 7 to Oct 9, the festival’s high-flying stunts and shows range from the peaceful zen of musical performance to the bombastic noise of lion dances and drumbeats. Either way, there’s as much elegance and excitement packed in as possible.