On July 13-14, a group of over 40 students from Kyushu University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong visited Hirado to attend the annual Koxinga Festival and investigate the history of this town, with its strong historical associations with Japan’s overseas trade with East Asia (including Taiwan) and Europe. On the 13th, we were very fortunate to be able to attend a performance of a traditional-style Japanese paper play (紙芝居), relating the story of the life of William Adams, an English captain with the Dutch East India Company who spent the last twenty years of his life in Japan in the early 17th century (and is buried in Hirado). We also visited the Matsuura Historical Museum with its fascinating collection of artefacts from the Edo period and earlier. On the 14th, we attended ceremonies at the Koxinga Shrine, and visited the nearby Koxinga Museum.
The kami-shibai (紙芝居) performance telling the story of William Adams’ life
The students are welcomed by Mr Aki Oseki of the Hirado Relations Association
Honouring Koxinga at the Koxinga Shrine, July 14
Speech by representative of the Tainan City Government
Koxinga’s statue looks on.
Preparing for the ceremonial dance. For a full video, click here.
The ceremonial dance begins. For full video, click here.
The ceremony ends with child drummers.