Illuminated boats sail in remembrance of famous poet in Japan

The Yomiuri Shimbun

November 2, 2021

Boats float down a river in Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Monday, the day before the anniversary of the death of famous local poet Hakushu Kitahara (1885-1942). During the two-night Hakushu Festival that began Monday, dozens of lantern-illuminated boats called donko carried tourists on the river. In previous years, the annual event lasted three nights — 210 boats were involved in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. This year, however, only 18 boats sailed on Monday and 26 boats are to sail on Tuesday.