The next morning, Kota takes me around the city of Fukuoka.
Hey Kota, is there some kind of festival going on?
Why do you say that?
Because there are so many buses here.
There are always a lot of buses in Fukuoka.
Really?
Look closely. These buses are all from the same company.
Ah, you are right.
Many people in Fukuoka use these buses. There are a lot of them, so it's easy to get around.
I hear that this company owns the most buses in Japan.
Ah, you are probably right.
We take a bus and get off in front of a shrine.
This is Kushida shrine.
I’ve never hard of it.
You must be kidding. So you’ve never heard of Gion Yamakasa?
It's a famous festival, right?
That’s right. If you come to Hakata, you have to visit this shrine, or bad things might happen to you.
Oh, really? Anyway, I thought we were in Fukuoka. Why did you just call it Hakata?
Well, there were two towns a long time ago. Hakata was a merchant town. And Fukuoka was a castle town. In eighteen eighty nine, the local government decided to put the two towns together and call it Fukuoka city.
But didn’t the people in Hakata get angry?
They did, so they kept the name Hakata for the main railway station. Also, the central part of the city is called Hakataku. Kushida shrine is in Hakata ku.
Ah, I see. Anyway, what's so special about Gion Yamakasa?
Well, Gion Yamakasa has a history of more than seven hundred seventy years. Floats are carried around the city by seven groups of people. It's really cool.
I see. So when is it?
It's held every year from July first to July fifteenth, but the most exciting event is the Oiyamakasa race. It starts at around five a.m., but tickets to see this event at Kushida shrine are usually sold out in about fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes? People must really like this event.
Some companies take the day off so everyone can enjoy the festival.
Wow, oh, is that a float?
Yeah. That one is about fifteen meters high. The ones they carry around the city are about four or five meters high. So they won't bump into the power lines. Around thirty men carry each float.
That float is so pretty with all those dolls.
Those are Hakata dolls. Craftsmen make them. You know, at this shrine, a large otafuku mask is placed at the entrance during the setsubun festival.
Really? Why?
Because people believe that if you walk through the otafuku’s mouth, it will bring good luck.
Hey, Kota. I’m hungry.
Okay, let's go get some udon.
Udon? But I am in Hakata. I want to eat Hakata ramen.
Just follow me.