 To raucous cheers of encouragement from the crowd and the ceaseless thunder of gigantic drums, the sacred floats move through the streets in much the same way they have for centuries, bringing to modern-day Fukuoka a sense of the energy and romance of the long-distant past. And all of this takes place during not just one, but three exciting festivals held annually during the month of July.
Strictly speaking, these spectacles are not parades but processions, featuring omikoshi (floats) that often contain sacred relics or artifacts representing the deities of certain Shinto shrines. Most of the massive floats—some weighing tons—are not wheeled, but carried on the shoulders of costumed bearers who volunteer for the honor. In that sense, the floats are "paraded" through town, but actually are involved in a procession that eventually brings them back to their home shrine where their contents are reinstalled in treasured seclusion to await the next annual "airing."
It's all great fun, and exactly the sort of thing for which personal video cameras were invented, so be sure to bring yours along.
 Hakata Gion Yamagasa (July 1 to 15) — The sacred festival of the Kushida Shrine in Hakata (the name still used for the old part of Fukuoka) was begun around 1241 by a priest, Shoichi Kokushi, in efforts to convince the gods to ease a plague that then prevailed in the area. The 15-day-long event begins with prayers for the safety of those who will bear the floats in subsequent days. Races among the bearing teams culminate in an exciting climax on the 15th day. The special cheer for these processions is "Osshoi, Osshoi!"
Kokura Gion Daiko (July 18 to 20) — "Yassa Yare Yare" is the fighting cheer for this 370-year-old traditional procession begun to celebrate the establishment of the Gion Shrine—now called Yasaka Shrine—in Fukuoka's Kokura district. A special feature is the drumming competition, participated in by as many as 100 different teams of men and boys. The teams display their skills throughout the three-day event, some of them performing on special stages built atop the gigantic floats as they are borne through the streets.
Tobata Gion Dai Yamagasa (July 25 to 27) — Grand and elegant 12-tiered lantern floats are the hallmark of this colorful event, originating around 1829 in the village of Tobata. Like so many other festivals, it too was initiated in relation to a plague, but in this case, was by way of thanking the gods for ending the one that had raged for more than a quarter of a century. "Yoitosa Yoitosa" is the cheer heard during this procession in which four huge floats are the main feature. At night, the floats are draped with lanterns and arranged to form a "pyramid of light" some ten meters tall—a sight you will not soon forget. | 
