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2013 HAKATA GION YAMAKASA,Hashire!Yamakasa

Hakata Gion Yamakasa is the festival that signals the coming of summer in town, Fukuoka. With over 770 years of history, Hakata Gion Yamakasa is a Shinto ritual dedicated to Hakata's main tutelary deity Kushida Shrine, and designated as an important intangible folk asset of the country. When the gorgeous Kazariyama floats are displayed throughout the city on July 1, the town is awash in Yamakasa mood and the 15-day event begins, celebrated with two contrasting types of floats of stillness and movement. Loincloth-clad float carriers, splashed with water, pull and carry floats that weigh a ton. They run through the streets with tremendous speed, power and gallant cries. The festival climaxes on July 15 at 4:59am with the Oiyama race, and brings the hot summer to Fukuoka. KBC has broadcasted the Oiyama race every year. Witness the bustling festival of Hakata Gion Yamakasa filmed by 20 cameras covering full aspects of the Japanese traditional festival.