The festival highlight are dance and show performances by groups representing Nagasaki's
various city districts. Each district (odori-cho), participates only
once every seven years, so this festival remains fresh to even the
regular viewer.
About five to seven groups perform each year, presenting traditional
Japanese dances, Chinese influenced dragon dances or performances
involving large floats, many of which are shaped like ships. While some
performances are calm and peaceful, others get wild and hectic.
