Hamasaki Gion Festival

A council organized by fishing cooperatives and fish industry officials in the Karatsu and Genkai districts of Saga Prefecture will hold a direct sale meeting with the focus of fish and seafood processed products with the aim of expanding the consumption of seafood and marine products. At the venue, various events such as all-you-can-bag fish (for a fee) are also held.

Celebrate the harvest and draw large reins. It is performed at night at the prefectural road, so it starts waiting for the passage of the final bus. The Ishimuro district is divided into upper and lower, and the match is drawn by three wins. Whichever wins, the harvest is considered to be the next year. For the tug-of-war, the Daozuna is made from rice straw, and two 50cm in diameter and 60m in length are tied together in the center, and it is about 100m long to attract each other.

14 Hikiyama in a unique style, made of lacquer and made of Japanese paper in the form of lions,, helmet, snapper, and hitryū, are mounted on a pile of Japanese paper, and they are mounted on flutes, bells, and drums. The highlight of the festival is "Oshosho Shinyuki" on November 3. It is a pull of the west beach, pulling it vigorously while taking the wheel off the sandy ground. It is one of the leading festivals in Kyushu and has been designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property. In addition, in 2016, "Yama, Hon, Yai-Yai", including the Karatsu Kunchi no Hikiyama event, was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site. Image courtesy Karatsu Tourism Association