Nagasaki Lantern Festival names Maekawa Kiyoshi and governor as 2027 parade emperors
In short
Nagasaki city announced that singer Maekawa Kiyoshi, 78, from Sasebo, will play the emperor in the February 20, 2027 emperor parade at the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, while Nagasaki Governor Hirai Ken will take the role on February 13. The festival is scheduled to run for 17 days, from February 5 to February 21, 2027. Tokyo Shimbun reported that the empress role in the parade is still being coordinated.
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Nagasaki city has announced who will play the emperor in the emperor parades at the 2027 Nagasaki Lantern Festival. Singer Maekawa Kiyoshi, 78, who is from Sasebo, will take the role on February 20, and Nagasaki Governor Hirai Ken, who took office this year, will take it on February 13, according to Nippon TV News and TBS NEWS DIG. [ 1 , 4 ]
The festival is scheduled to run for 17 days, from February 5 to February 21, 2027, with the emperor parades held on February 13 and February 20, both Saturdays, Nippon TV News reported. TBS NEWS DIG also listed the two parade dates. [ 1 , 4 ]
Nippon TV News said Maekawa is in his 58th year since his debut. TBS NEWS DIG quoted him as saying, “Though I am embarrassed, I will work at it positively.” [ 1 , 4 ]
Tokyo Shimbun reported that the empress role in the parade is still being coordinated, and did not say who is being considered. [ 2 ]
The announcements were reported across outlets through the afternoon and evening of October 5, starting with Nippon TV News at 14:06, followed by Tokyo Shimbun at 18:27, a second Nippon TV News item at 19:48 and TBS NEWS DIG at 20:45. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The emperor parade is described by one outlet as one of the main events of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, so the choice of who plays the emperor is part of the run-up to the February 2027 event. The announcements give residents and prospective visitors the parade dates and the two named figures roughly four months ahead of the opening. The documents give no figures on attendance or economic effect.
Key facts
- The 2027 Nagasaki Lantern Festival is scheduled to run for 17 days, from February 5 to February 21, 2027. [ 1 ]
- Emperor parades are planned for February 13 and February 20, 2027, both Saturdays. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Nagasaki Governor Hirai Ken, who took office this year, will serve as emperor on February 13. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Singer Maekawa Kiyoshi, 78, who is from Sasebo, will serve as emperor on February 20. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Maekawa is in his 58th year since his debut, according to Nippon TV News. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reported that the empress role in the parade is still being coordinated. [ 2 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG quoted Maekawa saying he is embarrassed but will work at it positively. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Singer Maekawa Kiyoshi will serve as emperor in the February 20, 2027 emperor parade at the Nagasaki Lantern Festival. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Nagasaki Governor Hirai Ken will serve as emperor in the February 13, 2027 emperor parade. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Emperor parades are scheduled for February 13 and February 20, 2027. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Who will serve as empress in the emperor parade. Tokyo Shimbun reported only that the role is being coordinated; no other document mentions it and no candidate is named.
- Other details of the 2027 festival programme beyond the parade dates and the two emperors. The documents describe only the emperor parade and the festival period.
- Nagasaki city announced the parade roles; the festival is scheduled for February 5 to February 21, 2027, over 17 days. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reports the city’s announcement that Maekawa Kiyoshi will be emperor on February 20 and Governor Hirai Ken on February 13, and gives the festival period of February 5 to February 21, 2027. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reports Maekawa as emperor and notes that the empress role is still being coordinated. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News publishes a second item on Maekawa taking the emperor role in the festival’s main parade event. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the emperor role for Maekawa and carries his comment that he is embarrassed but will work at it positively. [ 4 ]