Fukuoka is home to many festivals that are held throughout the
year. Of these, the most famous are Hakata Dontaku and Hakata Gion
Yamagasa.
Fukuoka Festivals - Yamakasa
Yamakasa, held for two weeks each July, is Fukuoka's
oldest festival with a history of over 700 years. Teams of men (no
women, except small girls, are allowed), representing different
districts in the city, race against the clock around a set course
carrying on their shoulders floats weighing several thousand pounds.
Participants all wear "shimekomi" (called "fundoshi" in other parts of
Japan), which are the loin cloths worn by Sumo wrestlers. Each day of
the two-week festival period is marked by special events and practice
runs, culminating in the official race that takes place the last
morning before dawn. Tens of thousands line the streets to cheer on
the teams. During the festival period, men can be seen walking around
many parts Fukuoka in long "happi" coats bearing the distinctive mark
of their team affiliation and traditional "Geta"
sandles. The costumes are worn with pride and are considered
appropriate wear for even formal occasions, such as weddings and
cocktail parties, during the festival period.
Fukuoka Festivals - Hakata Dontaku
Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく) is held in Fukuoka city on
May 3rd and 4th. Boasting over 800 years of history, Dontaku is
attended by more than 2 million people, making it the Japanese
festival with the highest attendance during Japan's Golden Week
holidays. During the festival, stages are erected throughout downtown
for traditional performances and a parade of floats is held. Its full
proper name is Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri (博多どんたく港まつり).
The festival was stopped for 7 years during the Meiji era, and since
it was restarted in the 12th year of the Meiji era it has been known
as Hakata Dontaku.
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Article based on
Wikipedia article and used under the
GNU Free Documentation License)
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