Bravely Celebrated the Arrival of Summer at Hakata, Fukuoka

Oita Godo Newspaper (evening edition on July 15, 2008)

      The brave traditional festival of “Hakata’s Gion Mountain Palanquin”, which is the celebration of the real arrival of summer, had turned to its time again. In this year, it took place on July 15 in the early morning. A large number of men in traditional (water) livery coats started carrying the huge palanquins, which overall weight was almost 1 ton, to the parade breaking through the crowd.

      To inform in details, this ceremony was begun when the sky just became little brighter, at 4 o’clock 59 minutes, at the famous Shinto Shrine called “Kushida” in the area of Hakata, Fukuoka city. The parade was divided in to 7 teams. Each team was allowed to parade one round according to the orderly arrangement and compete whether which team can reach the starting line another time the fastest.

      This year, “Daikoku, God of Wealth” team, who was allowed to parade first, won the highest popularity. This team had a very beautifully created mountain palanquin. Moreover, when it sang the celebrating song, the audiences ran to the nearest place and sang together with clapping their hands. However, the winner of the fastest time was “Chidai” team.

Comment:   What an interesting ceremony! I wish I could go to see this by myself. Anyway, I plan to attend Beppu and Oita’s summer celebrations in the end of July and the beginning of August.

PUNTHUCHAT Siripun

Thailand

APS3, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University