Yamakasa, the final

追山笠（4:59～） 

On the final day floats start racing from 4:59am.

But only the first turn in front of the Kushida Shrine is timed.

Winning is not important.

From the Kushida Shrine the 7 groups run through the streets over a 5km course. At 6:00 it’s all over. 

Kort maar krachtig

Returning to base covered in bandages, still thrilled with excitement.

Kawaiiii wan-chan

Hakata Gion Yamakasa, July 12th

Oiyama narashi

All groups participate in this practice run around town.l

追山ならし

15日 の本番「追山笠」のリハーサルです.

From Jotenji we could watch the floats doing a u-turn in front of the temple.

Paying respect to the chief priest at the Jotenji Buddhist temple

I love his charismatic smile.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa, July 11th

Ta-nagaregaki

The floats are carried to the nagare borough boundary, and neighboring teams pay their respects to each other. 

他流舁き（夕方） 

他の流区域まで出向いての流舁きで、相互表敬訪問のようなものです。 

It had been raining most of the day and there was a torrent at the time we were waiting for the float of Higashi nagare to pay their respect to JR at Hakata Station. Miraculously it STOPPED just a few minutes before the gang arrived and the break lasted as long as the ceremony. The moment they turned the corner it poured again.