Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri (Summer Festival of Kita Kyushu), Fukuoka

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The “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” (Summer Festival of Kita Kyushu) is a summer festival that started in 1988 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Kitakyushu City System, predecessor of the “Festival Kitakyushu” held since 1973. It was a major summer event in Fukuoka Prefecture, attracting over 1.5 million visitors every year. The biggest highlight of this festival is the “Million Dance” of the main festival and the “Washoi Million Fireworks” held at the eve of the festival. As many as 3000 fireworks are launched in time with the music to color the night sky of Kitakyushu.
The festival period was 2 days until 2018, but 2019 was changed to 3 days. The fireworks display that was held as the finale of the final day has been changed to be held at the previous night festival as the “First Wasshoi Hyakuman Fireworks”. It will be changed from the event that decorates the finale to the event that announces the beginning of the festival.

In addition, the launch site has been changed from the center of the city where there are many high-rise apartments to the sea. Therefore, restrictions were reduced, and the number of launches was greatly increased to about 10,000, about three times the previous number, and the power was increased to about 50 minutes of music fireworks.
At the main festival, “Children’s Dream Stage” where artists from Kitakyushu and children will co-star, and “Summer Festival Big Set”, where festivals representing each area in the city meet together, will be held. In addition, “Wasshoi YOSAKOI Kitakyushu”, a contest for Yosakoi, and “Wasshoi Parade”, a parade for floats, will be held. There are many events such as the “Hyakuman Dance” where 10,000 people dance in various costumes to match the songs of “Burn Everyone’s Kitakyushu” and “Iiccha Eeccha Kitakyushu”.

To raise Kitakyushu City where five cities gathered as a city

“Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” (Summer Festival of Kita Kyushu) is a festival held in Kitakyushu City Kokura Kita ward every August. It is a festival held more than 30 times and it is also one of the biggest festivals in Kitakyushu where about 1.5 million visitors come every year. It will be held on the first Saturday and Sunday in August.
The trigger of “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” is related to the establishment of Kitakyushu city. The city of Kitakyushu was born in 1963 when five cities of Moji, Ogura, Tobata, Yahata and Wakamatsu merged. In 10 years after that in 1973, “Matsuri Kitakyushu” began in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the municipal system. The purpose of the festival was to raise Kitakyushu City where five cities gathered as a city. It is because the citizen thought that Kitakyushu city where the historic town was merged, carved a new history and raised it. This “Matsuri Kitakyushu” changed to “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” in 1988, the 25th anniversary of the municipal system, and it reaches present.

What you should look at first at “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” is the Summer Festival Large Collection to be held on the evening of the first day. This is a wonderful thing that the festivals held in each of the Kitakyushu municipalities gather together.
There are many other places of interest such as “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri”, but you can not miss the fireworks that adorn its finale. Since the surrounding area voluntarily turns off before launch, the dark night sky is beautifully decorated, although it is a fireworks display at the center of the city. Four thousand fireworks to be launched in that are beautiful worthy of a lively festival.

Summer feature of Kitakyushu-shi

A summer feature of Kitakyushu-shi that 1,500,000 people visit every year.
More than enough event are held for two days like “Hyakuman Odori” which approximately 10,000 people come and dance with colorful clothes, “Natsumatsuri Daishugo” where festival cars and the Yamakasa with ornaments or the Mikoshi (miniature shrine) of each city ward participate in, “YOSAKOI” which is shown in 4 festival sites including the JR Ogura station square. 6,000 fireworks color a night sky on the final day, and finale is heaped up.

Unites the civic heart

The true symbol of summer of Kitakyushu-shi “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” was held for the first time as a festival which unites the civic heart with one and many people can enjoy on the 25th anniversary of municipal organization in 1988.
It is a popular festival which people visit from the inside and the outside of the city every year.

Representing Kitakyushu gather in one place

The Opening of it is the march of a float which is elaborated and skillful color, or total about 4,000 participating numbers of large parades. Then, Natsumatsuri Daishugo to which Ogura Gion Daiko (festival drum), Kurosaki Gion Yamakasa (festival float), Goheita Hayashi (festival song), Dairi Densho Yamakasa (festival float), etc. representing Kitakyushu gather in one place.

Enjoy the summer festival of Kitakyushu collectively

Hyakuman So-odori (festival dance) in which it participates as about 15,000 persons, the fireworks display, etc. you can enjoy the summer festival of Kitakyushu collectively.

The finale of the greatest event

The annual large fireworks display, which decorates the finale of the greatest event “Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri” in Kitakyushu opened over two days, is held in the Katsuyama park where the symbol of the park in Kitakyushu serves as the launch site. Backed by the Ogura Castle, you cannot miss the state to light up the whole town vividly.

Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)

Name:	Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri (Summer Festival of Kita Kyushu)
Address:	Bashaku Kitakyushu Kokurakita-ku, Fukuoka 802-0077 Japan
Access:	JR Sanyo Shinkansen Line “Kokura-eki” (10 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 93-541-5472 (Wasshoi Hyakuman Natsumatsuri Promotion Association)
Price / Charge:	Free
Official site:	http://wasshoi.info/