Hakata Gion Yamakasa

Hakata Gion Yamakasa is the famous festival of Hakata with a history and tradition of more than 780 years, dating back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is a Shinto ritual to dedicate Yamakasa, the chief deity of Hakata,  to Kushida Shrine and to pray for good health and well-being, and is designated as a nationally important intangible folk cultural asset. It was also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.

Every year on July 1, gorgeous Decorative Yamakasa of about 10 meters in height are displayed at 14 locations in Fukuoka City, and the city is instantly enveloped in a festive mood. At the same time, there are a total of seven kaki-yamakasa (carrying floats) prepared to parade the floats through the city. Each of the seven districts, called nagare, decides on a theme each year and creates a unique yamakasa.

The climax of the festival is the Ooi Yamakasa held on the last day of the festival. At 4:59 in the morning, the first Yamakasa starts to move. With a packed crowd of spectators on the piers and along the streets, the scene of “Hakata Shogarenta (celebratory song),” which only the first Yamakasa is allowed to sing, is a must-see. The chorus of spectators joins in, creating a truly soul-shaking and thrilling moment.
After that, seven nagare (teams) carry the Yamakasa, which each weigh one ton, and run energetically along the 5km route to the goal. The sight of the heroic and dynamic kakite (carriers) fills the locals with pride in carrying on the long tradition, and it is a moving sight to behold.