🇯🇵KABASHIMA(樺島).Nagasaki city,JAPAN local trip & history

【Resident Basic Register Information as of August 6, 2025】
Registered residents: ４１１
【Origin of the Island】
Two theories:
1) It is a corruption of the word “Kawabashima,” which comes from the fact that the island had many springs, making it ideal for replenishing water.
2) The theory goes that the name was given because the town was developed and constructed by the islanders after the port opened (after 1571).

【Island Features】
Kabashima has long been a bustling port with many ships waiting out the wind.
In particular, the Sakai (now Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture) fleet frequently traveled between Nagasaki and Sakai, and trade goods from Dutch and Chinese ships purchased at auction in Nagasaki were transported to Sakai and sold all over the country.

The votive dance “Kokkodesho” of Kabashimacho is said to have been introduced by the boatmen of Sakai ships who stayed overnight in the town at Sakai Danjiri. It was first performed in 1799, and has since become a staple. Furthermore, it became known around the world when Siebold included Gotocho’s umbrella poles and Kabashimacho’s Kokkodesho in his book “Nippon” with illustrations.
Source: Nagasaki Shinise Association　LINK