The coldest wave in a decade swept over Japan, and Nagasaki Prefecture hosted its first Lantern Festival in three years. I had the privilege of capturing the enchanting collaboration between snowfall and the warm glow of lantern lights.
Given the infrequency of snow in this region, I managed to immortalize a breathtakingly rare scene.
The Nagasaki Lantern Festival, an annual celebration running from late January to early February, traces its roots back to the Chinese New Year festivities. Originating as the Shunsetsusai in 1987 in Nagasaki’s Shinchi Chinatown, initially intended for overseas Chinese residents, it has since evolved into a major winter spectacle, drawing over a million visitors from across Japan.
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