Nagasaki City Peron Association

The Nagasaki Dragon Race Championships are held on the last Saturday and Sunday of July every year at Nagasaki Port. In addition to races between representative teams from each district (general competition), there are also races for workplaces, junior high schools, and women, making this a typical summer event in Nagasaki.

[Reiwa 6 Nagasaki Peron Championship]
■Date and time: Sunday, July 6, 7
　　　　　　9:00-17:00 (Admission starts at 8:30)
■ Viewing: ① Free
　　　　　*The free viewing tents will no longer be set up as of the 2024 tournament.
　　　　　　Please enjoy the view from above Matsugae International Terminal.
　　　　800) Special viewing stand: ¥8 (first come, first served, registration opens at 30:XNUMX on the day, no assigned seats, no advance reservations)
■Venue: Nagasaki Port (Matsugaeda International Tourism Pier)
■ Participating teams: 22 teams (16 general teams, 6 workplace/junior high school teams)
■Results: General competition race (1st place Nomozaki, XNUMXnd place Mie A, XNUMXrd place Mie B)
　　　　Occupational race (1st place: Kyushu Electric Power Group Peron Club, XNUMXnd place: Sony Semiconductor, XNUMXrd place: Saibu Gas Group)
■Race distance: Round trip 1,150m (outward 630m, return 520m)
■ Race format: General race, occupational race (including junior high school)
■ Experience Dragonflying: One session with two boats during lunch break (first 52 people, registration opens at 9:00 on the day, no advance reservations accepted)
                        *Preschool children are not allowed to participate. Elementary school students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
*Please take precautions against heat stroke. Please note that drinking water and other drinks are available for purchase inside the Matsugae International Terminal.

We have summarized the race results of the past Nagasaki Peron Championships.
Please refer to the following for more information.

■Reiwa XNUMXth year　■Reiwa 5nd year　■Year of the reunification　　■30　　■29　　■28　　■26　
■25　　■24　　■23　　■22　　■21

Peron tournaments are also held in each district of Nagasaki City.
Please refer to the following for more information.

Nagasaki is the birthplace of Peron in Japan. For this reason, teams from Nagasaki often participate in Peron competitions outside the prefecture, and have achieved many brilliant results at the ``Aioi Peron Festival'' in Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture.
■May 6, 5 (Sunday) General men's race Nomozaki team (runner-up)
■May 5, 5 (Sunday) General men's race Nomozaki team (runner-up)
■May 4, 29 (Sunday) General men's race Makishima Peron Preservation Enthusiasts Team (runner-up)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　  Nomozaki team (3rd place)
■Sunday, May 26, XNUMX General men's race Kotoumi Oto team (runner-up)
■May 30, 27 (Sunday) General men's race Doikubi team (runner-up)

Nagasaki is the birthplace of Peron in Japan. For this reason, teams from Nagasaki often participate in Peron tournaments outside the prefecture, and have achieved many brilliant results at the Amakusa Reihoku Peron Tournament in Reihoku Town, Kumamoto Prefecture.
■Sunday, July 5, 7 Mixed gender division Makishima Peron Preservation Enthusiasts Team (runner-up)
■Sunday, July 7, 14 General men's division Doikubi team (winner)
■July 30, 7 (Sunday) General men's division Fukuda Eastern Team (winner)
■July 29, 7 (Sunday) General men's division Doikubi team (runner-up)
■July 28, 7 (Sunday) General Men's Division Mie Kadoue Team (24rd place)
■Sunday, August 27, 8 General Men's Division Makishima Peron Preservation Enthusiasts Team (Champion)

Nagasaki's Peron rowing was introduced from China.
Around 300 B.C., Qu Yuan, a talented politician during China's Warring States period, lamented the injustice and corruption in politics and threw himself into a river called Bera. It is said that the origin of the dragon boat was an attempt to save Qu Yuan's body from being eaten by fish by beating a gong or drum to keep the fish away.

The origin of the word Peron is said to be a corruption of the word Pyron.

The Peron Rowing Race was held in Nagasaki Port in the first year of Meireki (1655) during the Edo period, when a Chinese ship anchored in Nagasaki Port was attacked by a storm and wrecked, resulting in many drownings. It is said that it began when Chinese residents in China rented barges and rowed competitively in Nagasaki Port to appease the sea god's anger.

During the Edo period, Peron rowing races were held during the Boy's Festival in May of the lunar calendar, but people were so enthusiastic about rowing races that various fights continued, so the Nagasaki magistrate often issued bans. Since then, various festivals have been held in various parts of Nagasaki, including one held to pray for a big catch, one called the Ryujin Festival, and another called ``Ashiarai'' held after the rice planting.Currently, the festival is held from early June to mid-August. The Nagasaki Peron Championship Tournament is held at Nagasaki Port on the last Saturday and Sunday of July, with selected teams from each region competing for victory. In recent years, we have also been sending teams to mutual Peron tournaments with Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture, and Reihoku Town, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture, to promote friendly exchanges.

We consider the curvature of the bottom of the boat, the tide at the bow, and the balance of wave resistance and force. The details are considered to be the secret of every boat build. The boat is made of cedar, and each team draws its own unique mark on the bow. In the past, boats varied in length, decoration, and crew, but today boats are 45 shaku (approximately 13.6 meters) long and have a crew of up to 30 (up to 26 rowers, taiko drum, gong, helmsman, and water pumper). The race has been unified, and the rowers race 1,150 meters round trip to the beat of gongs and taiko drums. In addition, cheering groups crowding around the seaside wave big catch flags and cheering squad flags, cheering, and creating a spectacular ``sea festival.''