Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival Fukuoka

This festival literally attracts a crowd of spectators amounting to around 1million. The Yamakasa floats are categorized as Kazariyama and Kakiyama. The former is used for decorative purposes while the latter is used exclusively for the festival. The decorated floats are put up on the corners of the streets for display before the festival. Kazariyama floats are approximately 10meters tall and are decorated with samurai or popular anime character dolls produced by the specialized master Hakata Doll craftsmen. Previously men used to run while carrying the tall decorated floats but due to certain inconveniences of floats getting stuck on electric cables and lights thus it was decided to put them up for display purposes only. These floats are kept at the Kushida-jinja Shrine and can be viewed all year round.

Men carry the floats from 10th and the festival attains it peak on 15th as in the early morning hours the first float takes off as the beating drums give the signal. In this contest men compete to cover the 5km track in the shortest possible time of half an hour apparently. Despite the importance of speed they are required to maintain a gracious and heroic pattern while racing. One interesting factor about this fest is that the citizens refrain from eating cucumbers during the festival period. This practice is known to have emerged from the fact that the round cucumber slices resembles the symbol of respective deity of this festival known as Gion-sama enshrined in Kushida-jinja Shrine.