Chiayi: A Japanese-style lantern float featuring Taiwan's sea goddess Mazu took center stage at the Team Taiwan baseball parade during the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County. The parade, held on Saturday evening, showcased the mega-size art piece, a traditional Japanese Nebuta float, which is intricately handmade from wood, metal wire, and paper.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Nebuta float is highly regarded in Japanese culture, with the Aomori Nebuta Festival being recognized as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan since 1980. The artists behind the float visited the Puzi Peitian Temple in Chiayi frequently to draw inspiration for the deities they crafted for the festival.
The float's prominence in the parade was in celebration of Team Taiwan's performance at the ongoing 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). On the same day as the parade, Taiwan achieved a decisive 14-0 victory over the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Dome. The parade's festive atmosphere was further enhanced by dance and music performances, as well as drone shows that accompanied the various floats.