The Maeda Gion Yamakasa, an intangible folk cultural property designated by Kitakyushu City, is finally starting! This year, the exciting event will be streamed live!
Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture (Kitakyushu City Hall) Press release: July 8, 2025 The Maeda Gion Yamakasa, an intangible folk cultural property designated by Kitakyushu City, is finally about to begin! This year, we will be live streaming the exciting competition! ～How to enjoy the Maeda Gion Yamakasa & the dates of each Gion Festival in the Yahatahigashi Ward area of Kitakyushu City are now available! Enjoy a hot tour of Gion this summer!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/76777/165/76777-165-7ec59e57994c6fdae1454b9b1d5d31cb-1200×675.png Maeda Gion Yamakasa parade of majestic Yamakasa (Left: Sasa Yamakasa / Right: Doll-decorated Yamakasa) Over 800 years of history and tradition The Maeda Gion Yamakasa, which has been passed down since ancient times in the Maeda area of Yahatahigashi Ward, is a Yamakasa event held by parishioners to serve the festival of Nakajuku Hachiman Shrine (more precisely, the festival of Yatsukagami Shrine, which was enshrined in the shrine in 1955). Its origin is said to date back to the early Muromachi period, when the Aso clan, who ruled this region, built Yatsukagami Shrine in Hirokawahara (later Gionhara) at the foot of Mt. Hanao, invited Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto to pray for the elimination of epidemics and bountiful harvests within their domain, and held the Gion Festival. After the Oshioi-tori event, which is held in late June, the bamboo yamakasa parade around the area, then change into doll-decorated yamakasa and accompany the divine procession. During the divine procession, the three yamakasa, Ichiban yamakasa, Niban yamakasa, and Hongu yamakasa, follow the mikoshi from Nakajuku Hachimangu Shrine to the Otabisho (the former site of Yatsukagami Shrine). There, the yamakasa separate from the mikoshi and parade around their respective areas.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/76777/165/76777-165-0fdd3716778639306356fb2388a4ce47-1280×960.jpg Doll Yamakasa and Sasa Yamakasa (Photo courtesy of Maeda Gion Yamakasa Preservation Society) The “Maeda Gion Yamakasa Event” was designated an intangible folk cultural property of Kitakyushu City on March 30, 2001. In 2005, it celebrated its 800th anniversary. Main events Venue Date and time Oshioiri Oshioiri is held to pray for the safety of the Yamakasa event. The wells are taken to the Yamakasa hangar or to each home and used for warding off evil spirits. Yawata Higashida Green Area Sunday, June 29th, 9:00-10:00 Flag Sasayamakasa Shrine Entry Event Three Sasayamakasa shrine floats enter Nakajuku Hachimangu Shrine and a drum offering is made in front of the shrine. After the Sasayamakasa Shinto ritual, they head out for a procession to each neighborhood association. Nakajuku Hachiman Shrine July 13 (Sun) 10:00-11:00 Gion Festival Decoration Yamakasa Shrine Entry Event Three decoration Yamakasa enter the shrine at Nakajuku Hachiman Shrine, and the shrine’s portable shrine leads the parade through the town. (Goshinkou) Nakajuku Hachiman Shrine July 20th (Sun) 8:50~ Competition After a drumming competition between representatives from each Yamakasa, each Yamakasa runs one by one, meandering across the entire width of the road, turning the Yamakasa around. Maedagion Yamakasa Street July 21st (holiday/Monday) 17:30~
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/76777/165/76777-165-11d1f7b2873e236c8225988be8406c1d-1280×960.jpg The scene of collecting tide water (Photo courtesy of Maeda Gion Yamakasa Preservation Society)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/76777/165/76777-165-ab1625e3c2637fa0ec8b4839ade295bc-1280×962.jpg Ceremony before the Sasayamakasa procession (Photo courtesy of Maeda Gion Yamakasa Preservation Society) View details Maeda Gion Enjoyment Guide ・The sound of taiko drums echoing through the town Several months ago, children from the town gathered together and beat the taiko drums rhythmically. You can feel the arrival of the Gion season in the sound of the drums. At the competition, there is also a taiko drum competition between each Yamakasa, and the results are announced. ・Procession Route The sight of the 3.5m tall decorated floats parading before your eyes is a spectacular sight! Please refer to the parade route and enjoy the view from a safe location on the day. *The parade route may change depending on the situation on the day. Thank you for your understanding. *The procession route will be announced on the Instagram accounts of each Yamakasa ・The unknown behind the scenes of each Yamakasa Each of the Ichiban Yamakasa, Niban Yamakasa, and Hongu Yamakasa posts information on Instagram. See the movements of each Yamakasa as they head towards Maeda Gion. Maeda Gion Ichiban Yamakasa Instagram Maeda Gion Niban Yamakasa Instagram Maeda Gion Hongu Yamakasa Instagram
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/76777/165/76777-165-41f046d03a3eb0402bdbe6c6423fdccc-1414×2000.jpg The main route of the Ichiban Yamakasa festival on the day of the festival, which is in charge of the Ichiban Yamakasa this year (Courtesy of Maeda Gion Ichiban Yamakasa) First of the year! The competition will be live-streamed on Instagram! The excitement of the Maeda Gion Yamakasa festival rises from the pre-festival on July 19th to the festival on the 20th and the after-festival on the 21st. The first, second and main festivals parade through the town every day, creating a heroic sight. In particular, at the after-festival competition, each Yamakasa snakes its way through the entire width of the road, and the atmosphere at the venue reaches its peak when the Yamakasa is turned around. For the first time this year, Yahatahigashi Ward Office will live stream the event, which is attended by 3,000 people, on Instagram! We will convey the charm of Maeda Gion to people all over the country, including those who have ties to Kitakyushu City and those who live too far away to come on the day of the festival! [Delivery date and time] Competition July 21st (holiday/Monday) 18:30~ (scheduled) Distribution Yahata Higashi Ward Official Instagram Information on events held in the Gion area of Yahatahigashi Ward ■Area map
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/76777/165/76777-165-c4baf6ffca854afd2d772b275b899bf2-676×386.png Venue of the five Gion festivals held in Yahatahigashi Ward ■Schedule of each Gion festival in 2025 Gion name Schedule Location Okura Gion 7/6 Nyuyama Hachiman Shrine・Katsuyama Katsuta Shrine Maeda Gion 7/19～7/21 Nakajuku Hachiman Shrine・Maeda Gion Yamakasa Street Central Gion 7/19～7/21 Yahata Chuo Ward Shopping Street Chayamachi Gion 7/23～7/25 Chayamachi Park Edamitsu Gion 7/25～7/27 Edamitsu Hachimangu Shrine
Contact Information Yahata Higashi Ward Office General Affairs and Planning Division 1-1-1 Chuo, Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyushu City Phone: 093-681-0387 *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.
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