Tobata Gion Oyamagasa, Fukuoka

Kitakyushu city is a festival city. In summer, a big festival called “Gion” will be held in more than 20 places in the city. Among them, “Tobata Gion Oyamagasa” which is most popular among citizens is held in Tobata-ku. It is a festival that can be said as a pride and treasure of Kitakyushu, which was also registered as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2016.
“Tobata Gion Oyamagasa” is a festival held in Toba-ku, Kitakyushu city, held every three days across the fourth Saturday of July. This festival is also one of the three biggest festivals in the summer of Fukuoka Prefecture, together with “Kokura Gion Daiko” in Kitakyushu City and “Hakata Gion Yamakasa” in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In addition, Tobata Gion Oyamagasa is also called “three major festivals in Kitakyushu summer” together with “Kokura Gion Daiko” and “Kurosaki Gion Yamagasa”.
Tobata Gion Oyamagasa is a style like so-called mikoshi that carries it only with the power of man. However, weight is different from Mikoshi. With the power of bearer alone, a huge yamakasa (festival float) will be carried of as much as 2.5 tons. That is why it is a brave festival that feels power, energy. For carrying 80 people, it is calculated that over 30 kg per person is on the shoulder.
As a feature of Tobata Gion Oyamagasa, the appearance of day and night is different. This is a great attraction of Tobata Gion. In the day, a brave “Noboriyama” wearing a large 12 banners and gorgeous curtains and decorations. And in the evening, “Chochinyama” called “light pyramid” with 309 lanterns in 12 steps is beautiful. Both are wonderful yamagasa, but the local people seem to like “Noboriyama” in the day. Twelve banners of “Noboriyama” in the daytime, and the front “flowers” in front are beautiful, the back “miokuri” is masculine and divine yamagasa. For each district the picture of “miokuri” behind is different, please enjoy it too. All with embroidery, it is very precious.
Please enjoy both yamagasa day and night.

The three major festivals of summer of Fukuoka Prefecture

Tobata Gion Oyamagasa is the festival held in Tobata-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka-ken in July every year. Along with Hakata Gion Yamagasa, Kokura Gion Daiko, it is a festival counted by the three major festivals of summer of Fukuoka Prefecture. Locally, it is widely loved by the nickname of “Chochin Yama” (mountain of paper lanterns).
“Chochin Yama” can be seen as a perfect word. This scenery is beyond a doubt the mountain of paper lanterns, pyramid of paper lanterns. It will be taken aback by the height.

Each design of the embroidery is very elegant

The highlights of Tobata Gion Oyamagasa can be split into three categories. First of all The figure of the daytime called “Nobori Yama” (festival cars decorated with flags, banners, streamers).
The decoration which treated the flower of the big white chrysanthemum called “front flowers” is displayed on the front surface of Yamagasa, and beautiful curtain etc. are given to a foundation.
Each design of the embroidery of that was all different and is very elegant.

The night figure of yamagasa called “Chochin Oyamagasa”

The second highlight is the night figure of yamagasa (decorated festival car) called “Chochin Oyamagasa”. It isn’t anything like as figures as it was daytime. All the accessories of “Nobori Yama” of daytime are removed, and it becomes shining 12 steps of pyramids of 10 meters in height decorated with 309 paper lanterns.
About 2.5 t in weight. This is shouldered by 60 – 100 persons, and it energetically parade..

the moments of changing from daytime to nighttime

The 3rd highlight is the moments of changing from “Nobori Yama” of daytime to “Chochin Oyamagasa” of nighttime.
The performance of the menfolk who finish setting up the stage of a paper lantern in an instant is admired.
Nationally, the festival which completely changes its figure from daytime to night does not have an example, and it is a big highlight of Tobata Gion Oyamagasa.

Graceful and brave Yamagasa

Tobata Gion Oyamagasa is the man’s festival. Please enjoy graceful and brave Yamagasa of daytime and night, respectively.

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