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Hakata Gion Yamakasa
Feel Hakata Men's Spirit There
Date:07, Sep, 2016
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
About our introductory articles


Last time, I posted an article featuring "Gion Matsuri" in Kyoto. In fact, all around Japan, there are many festivals called "Gion Matsuri" because Susano-o is deified at a lot of shrines including Yasaka in Kyoto.

That's also in Fukuoka. They have held a festival called "Hakata Gion Yamakasa" every summer.



Do you know what "Yamakasa" means? It does portable shrines and festival floats. Originally, in the festival, they used to contend for the most gorgeous Yamakasa in order to deify Susano-o at Kushida Shrine. Now, the Yamakasa are set as the essential point of the festival.

Women are forbidden to join the "Hakata Gion Yamakasa." Moreover, it is under the ban to have sexual intercourse during the festival is being held. It means the festival needs men to become the most energetic. If you said "that means an infringement on human rights," you are a fool who cannot understand the festival's essence rightly.



Why does the festival so force men into tension? The essential point is "Oi-yama" which means a race by the men carrying portable shrines called "Yamakasa." It looks very powerful. You must check the power when were in summer Fukuoka.

The festival is held by the positive cooperation among the local areas, not their official government. So "Hakata Gion Yamakasa" will let you know how much the local men love the district and are proud of.


Hakata Gion Yamakasa Official Homepage (Japanese)




 

The Gion Festival
Origin of Japanese Summer Festivals

Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
The Summer Festival for Staying Awake?