2 posts tagged “festival”
Yesterday, despite knowing full well that it was a horrible idea given my impending deadlines, I visited a Yamakasa practice near home. Let me tell you, I have now seen enough nearly-naked butts to last me a lifetime. In fact, I never want to see that much skin on a guy again, though I may make an exception for the actual race because I hear that it's awesome.
Photos are forthcoming, so you will soon be able to enjoy it for yourself.
Highlight! There was a video camera crew recording the event---I assume for a news organization, though there were no logos---and I was lucky (?) enough to get caught on film a few times. In fact, there was one point where the camera was trained solely on a conversation between my host mother and I for 15 seconds or so. I guess my orange and black umbrella (gotta represent), our difference in height, the fact that I'm foreign, and my innate handsomeness gave the scene some interest. I just wish I knew where the tape went.
Just before the float started moving (which was a sight!), there was one kimono-wearing Yamakasa member who decided to stand directly in front of me and stretch. I wanted to watch the preparations, but oh man, if I looked even in that general direction, I had to deal with the fact that out of the corner of my eye there was a man shaking his nearly naked butt in my face. I'll never be able to rub those images from my mind.
As for the actual float-carry part of the practice, they basically ran down the street, ran back, then repeated the same down an intersecting street. It was really fun to watch, though, because there were 6 people sitting on the float barking out commands while there were guys on the sides repeatedly throwing entire buckets of water over the guys carrying it. The energy level was very high.
Here are some photos from previous Yamakasa (accompanied by some crazy music).
As I understand it, Gion Yamakasa is a traditional Hakata (Fukuoka) festival where guys wear skimpy outfits and carry gigantic floats around the city as fast as they can, to the delight of women and girls alike. You can tell a Yamakasa float-carrier in the days leading up to the race by his nearly modest loincloth and nearly-completely exposed rear end.
July 1: Floats unveiled
July 9: Runners perform purification and blessing rituals
July 10: Afternoon practices in respective districts
July 11: Early morning practices
July 12: Rehearsal race
July 13: Floats are carried to City Hall
July 14: Evening "warm-up" (sounds like a drinking party)
July 15: 5AM race! The main event!
Oisa-oisa!
