Is there any special meaning in the Torii Shinto Shrine gate? Torii is a gate-like structure placed at key point in the path leading to  the Shinto shrine. It is very unique for the vermilion torii gate of to  stand in the sea.

Torii Shinto Shrine gate (鳥居)…の続きを読む

Float Festivals including Tobata Gion Yamagasa inscribed on UNESCO  Intangible Heritage List in 2016. Tobata Gion Yamagasa is one of the three major summer festivals in Fukuoka  Prefecture，along with .     The festival has a lot of energy and is very dynamic as is the case with   festivals such as the Hakata Gion Yamagasa，with young men wearing  the happi (festival costume) and hachimaki (head band)， carrying the  Yamagasa (festival float) and walking around the town shouting  “yoitosa yoitosa”.    What is remarkable is the way the character of the Yamagasa changes  from daytime，with the Nobori Yamagasa (festival floats with flags); to  nighttime，with the Chochin Yamagasa ( festival floats with lanterns). The highlight is the Chochin Yamagasa Contest held in Tobata Ward  Office on Saturday night.  The Nobori Yamagasa used during the daytime is dismantled，and the  10 metre-high Chochin Yamagasa，with its 309 lanterns arranged in 12 tiers， is assembled and carried along in a race by dozens of young people crying  “yoitosa yoitosa”.   ●Event Schedule in 2017 ・June 21 (Fri.) 　Shinto ceremonies at each of the following:Tobihata Hachimangu Shrine，  　Sugawara Shrine and Nakabaru Hachimangu Shrine. ・June 22 (Sat.) 　Yamagasa Contest in the evening in front of Tobata Ward Office ・June 23 (Sun.) 　Yamagasa parade in each town

Tobata Gion Yamagasa (戸畑祇園山笠）…の続きを読む