Spirit Boat Procession

The Spirit Boat Procession (精霊流し, Shōrō nagashi) is an event celebrated in various places in Nagasaki prefecture, Japan.

Bamboo and grass are often used,[1] though cogongrass is popular in Saikai, Nagasaki,[5] and some other people use hardened corrugated cardboard.

Those who are not mourning generally build small laced rafts, and set O-Bon lanterns, fruit or non-natural flowers on them instead.

[2] Larger boats, called moyaibune, are created and sent out by neighborhoods, local councils or organizations.

The meaning of the firecrackers that are fired on the side of the road leading up to the launching place comes from a Chinese idea on how to ward off evil spirits, and by passing the boats by, they are cleansed.

Masashi Sada, a native of Nagasaki, wrote a song called Shoro nagashi that is essentially about the festival.