Mentai-ju News vol.17

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa will be held again this year from July 1st to 15th.
It has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and during the festival "decorative floats (kasa)" are displayed all over the city, with the carrying of the floats beginning on July 10th.

On the final day, the 15th, the most exciting part of the festival is the Oi Yamakasa, where "Ichiban Yamakasa" enters Kushida and "Iwai-medeta" is sung.
It is also called the "Hakata Celebration Song" and is written in kanji as "medeta". Only the first Yamakasa can sing "medeta" and sing it.

Celebratory songs are sung not only at Yamakasa festivals, but also at celebratory occasions and banquets.
The lyrics of the song "Iwai-Medeta" have seven verses, and it is common to sing verses one through three at a time. At first, one person sings alone, and then halfway through, all participants join in and clap along.
Also, after finishing singing, it is customary to end the performance with "(Hakata) Teippon."

Also, in Hakata weddings, it is often sung by older people and relatives at the end of the ceremony to close the reception.

During the Yamakasa festival, a seasonal summer event in Hakata, many spectators visit the city and the town becomes lively.
Our restaurant (Ganso Hakata Mentaiju Nishinakasu) will be open during this period without taking a break. We look forward to seeing you there.