Tobata Gion Yamagasa festival

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Template:Nihongo is a popular local Japanese festival (matsuri) which takes place annually in Tobata, a ward of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It is held for three days (Friday–Sunday) before and after the fourth Saturday of July. The festival is a national cultural assetTemplate:Citation needed of Japan, and is centred on the parading of the Template:Nihongo.<ref>Tobata Gion Yamagasa (festival) Template:In lang, and the Template:In lang version: 戸畑祇園山笠 ／ 戸畑祇園大山笠. Japan National Tourism Organization. Accessed 15 July 2009.</ref>

The Yamagasa

The Yamagasa (or Yamakasa) are very large floats, and are the focal point of the festival. There are four regions of Tobata which participate: Higashi, Nishi, Tenraiji and Nakabaru. Each region has a large Yamagasa for men and a small one for boys, making eight main floats in total.

During the festival in the daytime, the eight official floats with twelve great flags hoisted on the four large ones are carried for a parade, followed by some small floats for children. But in the nighttime, the floats are completely transformed into pyramids of light—huge Lantern Yamakasa floats, their decorations with the flags removed. Each with twelve layers of 309 lanterns, 10 meters high, and 1.5 tons in weight, is shouldered by about 100 carriers.

To move the Yamagasa is an art which requires concerted lifting by all the carriers. To ensure that they do it successfully, they all shout "yoitosa, yoitosa" together in a rhythmic chant with drums and cymbals.

History

This festival has its origin in 1802, when people plagued by an epidemic in Tobata Village of Chikuzen prayed to Suga-taijin to disperse the plague, their prayers were answered and all of the villagers with the plague were cured.Template:Citation needed At that time the villagers held the Yamakasa Festival as the celebration event of the answer to their prayers.

At some point, the nighttime races against the clock around a set course were abandoned Template:Citation needed. However, as of 2017, they take place.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Also, a Yamagasa festival for ladies has been started Template:Citation needed.

See also

• Wasshoi Hyakuman matsuri

Notes

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External links

• Movie of Tobata Gion - taken by the uploader
• Tobata Gion via the Internet Archive Template:In lang