Trained volunteers unfurled all 29 sails of the Kaio Maru sailing ship in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, on Tuesday [1].
The event, known as "Sohantenpan," serves as a public demonstration of the vessel's full rigging and beauty. Because the ship is nicknamed the "Lady of the Sea," the ritual is used to share its aesthetic grandeur with the public as part of Children's Day celebrations [1].
The process began shortly after 10 a.m. on May 5 [1]. Each of the 29 sails [1] was spread manually by a team of volunteers. The entire operation took approximately 90 minutes to complete [1].
Reports on the number of volunteers involved vary by source. One report cited 66 volunteers [1], while another source listed 72 participants [3]. These individuals underwent prior training to ensure the complex manual process was executed safely and correctly.
Spectators gathered along the waterfront to watch the sails rise. "It was more amazing than I imagined," one attendee said [1]. Another visitor described the sight as wonderful and said they had not expected it to be so impressive [1].
The Kaio Maru is a prominent symbol of maritime heritage in the region. The manual deployment of the sails is a labor-intensive tradition that requires precise coordination among the crew and volunteers to ensure every sail is properly positioned.
“It was more amazing than I imagined”
The Sohantenpan ritual preserves traditional seamanship skills in an era of automated maritime technology. By integrating this display into a national holiday like Children's Day, the event functions as both a cultural preservation effort and a community engagement tool to maintain interest in Japan's nautical history.
