Tobata Gion Yamagasa, in Kitakyushu-city
Float Festivals including Tobata Gion Yamagasa inscribed on UNESCO Intangible
Heritage List in 2016.
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”.
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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”.