In July, 2018, Dr. Maehara and Prof. Vickers organised a study tour for students to the ‘Zheng Chenggong Festival’ (鄭成功祭り) in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture. This festival is held annually at Hirado, the birthplace of Zheng Chenggong, and his mother’s hometown. Attending this event provided the students with interesting insights into the different interpretations (and political uses) of Zheng Chenggong’s legacy in contemporary Taiwan and East Asia.
Young drummers performing at the Zheng Cheng-gong festival in Hirado, July 14, 2018.