Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
We traveled into the city of Fukuoka yesterday to catch some of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa practice runs. After a delicious ramen lunch, we wandered around and found a lantern-strung street leading to the Kushida Shrine. People started gathering around a central square where a team, clad in traditional happi coats, prepared for the arrival of the float. These practice sessions help the 500+ men synchronize their movements and showcase the centuries-old tradition. and cultural heritage amidst the city's vibrant summer atmosphere. We were perfectly placed to watch one of the float arrivals and another team start off their practice run.
To quote the Japan Guide website:
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival takes place from July 1st to 15th every year in Fukuoka. The history of the festival can be traced back almost 800 years to a Buddhist priest named Shoichi Kokushi. At that time, an epidemic spread across the city and Kokushi keen to prevent the spread of the disease, was carried on a platform around the town praying and sprinkling holy water. The religious ceremony was held annually by the people of Hakata to prevent the disease from returning and gradually evolved into the Yamakasa festival of today.
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa (博多祇園山笠) is one of the most interesting festivals in Japan. It is held every year during the first half of July and climaxes with a spectacular time trial race in the early morning hours of July 15. In the race, seven neighborhoods of Fukuoka's Hakata district compete in pushing beautifully decorated festival floats along a five kilometer long course through the city.
For the race, smaller-sized kakiyama floats - about five meters tall and one ton heavy - are used today. There are seven of them, one for each of the neighborhoods participating in the race. The floats do not have wheels and are dragged through the streets, while water is spread in front of the float in order to reduce friction between the float and the road surface (and to cool down the participants).
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