Boat racing and cultural performances were held across China during the three-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival.
The annual festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar Chinese calendar, fell on Saturday this year. The festival honors the beloved Chinese poet Qu Yuan (339-278 B.C.) from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).
Forty-four dragon boat teams from Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County in southwest China's Guizhou Province staged a traditional dragon boat race upstream on the Wujiang River.
Each team battled fiercely on the 500-meter course to the sounds of drums and cheers ringing out from both banks. Among the participating teams, the only two women's teams stood out, showcasing an impressive spirit.
"Our team was established only this year. We have trained for over 20 days. It was very challenging for us during the dragon boat rowing, but we are very happy. Our ultimate goal is to showcase the presence of women," said Ren Hongfei, leader of the women's dragon boat team from the Heping Sub-district in Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County.
In Hangzhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province, over 80 uniquely shaped dragon boats raced on the Yuhangtang River. The local competition rules do not prioritize speed, but instead use the height of the splashes as a standard for evaluation, with the highest splashes receiving the accolades.
Fu Yuanhui, a Chinese world champion swimmer, was invited to the event and experienced the dragon boat race in person.
"We strive to promote dragon boat culture to more young people and to those who are not yet familiar with it, encouraging everyone to participate more in this wonderful cultural tradition," said Fu.
During the festival, about 100,000 visitors enjoyed delicious river snail dishes and watched dragon-themed performances in "Luosi Town" in Hengxi Village in east China's Jiangxi Province.
Festival-themed events across China celebrate Dragon Boat Festival
Festival-themed events across China celebrate Dragon Boat Festival
The Japanese society should do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression and adhere to the pacifist constitution, said Shiradori Hiroshi, a professor of the Hosei University, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on April 30.
He said the government's recent move to discuss revising the three security documents deserve particular attention as the country's foreign and security policies have already witnessed major changes.
"People outside of the country hold that Japan's post-war image as a 'peace state' is now facing a major shift. Against the backdrop of tremendous changes in its foreign and security policies, the revision of the three security documents deserves particular attention. There lacks public debate in terms of the procedure, with policy changes decided unilaterally at Cabinet meetings. It is necessary to fully explain to the public as to whether such a practice is proper," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government held its first expert panel meeting to discuss revisions to the three security documents at the Prime Minister's Office on April 27, local media reported.
Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.
Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting, according to Kyodo News.
Hiroshi said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, or Tokyo Trials, and the Japanese society must do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression in WWII, when it brought enormous catastrophes on Asian countries.
"Eighty years have passed since the opening of the Tokyo Trials. Japan inflicted enormous suffering on Asian countries during WWII, which should serve as an opportunity for the soul-searching. It is exact on the basis of countless sacrifices that Japan's post-war pacifism and its identity as a 'peace state' took shape. On this 80th anniversary, it is necessary for Japan to re-examine and do soul-searching regarding its history," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government's effort to revise the pacifist constitution is widely opposed by the public.
On Sunday, around 50,000 people gathered at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, chanting slogans and holding banners against the government's push for constitutional revision and military expansion, the largest turnout of its kind in recent years.
Japan should adhere to pacifist constitution: scholar
