User:HelloAnnyong/Translated/Wasshoi Hyakuman Matsuri
Wasshoi Hyakuman Matsuri (わっしょい百万夏祭り) is a matsuri in Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan. It is a summer festival that spans two days, usually the first weekend in August.
Outline
When Kitakyushu celebrated the 10th anniversary of its creation as a municipality and ordinance-designated city in 1973, a Junior Chamber International corporation held an event called the "Kitakyushu Matsuri", and on the 25th anniversary, the current Wasshoi Hyakuman Matsuri was started.
On average, around 1,500,000 people attend the event.The current organizations who organize the event are the city of Kitakyushu and the Wasshoi Hyakuman Matsuri promotion association. Every year a theme is picked; in 2009, the theme was "Pride of Kitakyushu". The budget is usually around 80,000,000 yen, most of which goes to supporting the city.[1][2]
The matsuri is meant to symbolize how the five cities came together to form Kitakyushu and the spiritual uniting of the people.[3][4]。
Hyakuman dance
Around 10,000 people participated in a large-scale dance. Prior to the event, several dance classes were held.
Wasshoi YOSAKOI Kitakyushu
The yosakoi dance that originated in Kōchi has been performed every year since 2003. Local businesses and groups, as well as student organizations have participated, and participation has increased in the years since it started.
Floral trains and bikes
Every year, Nishi-Nippon Railroad operates a special private car called the "Flower Car" (花自動車), which is filled with artificial flowers and decorations. The train runs
路面電車の西鉄北九州線が健在の頃は花電車を運行していた。花電車は地元の小倉北区下到津に工場を持つ東芝や、地元百貨店の井筒屋がスポンサーとして出資していた時期もある。1992年（平成4年）に同線が廃止されたため、以降はトラックを改造した車両を花自動車として運行している。架線から直接電力を供給できる電車と違い、自動車用バッテリーを用いるため電力使用量に限りがあり、花電車時代と比べて電飾は地味になっている。
References
- ^ 提言書（米子青年会議所）
- ^ 「わっしょい百万夏まつり」8月1、2日に開催（読売新聞 2009年5月16日）
- ^ 「わっしょい百万夏まつり」閉幕 コンセプト変更へ 年内にも方針 「大集合」形式は維持（西日本新聞 2009年8月3日）
- ^ わっしょい百万夏まつり開催!（初日）（北九州青年会議所 2009年8月6日）
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)