Beginning at the start point at Kushida Shrine, the Yamakasa are carried passed Joten-ji (Joten Temple), a location connected to the origins of Yamakasa, and then onwards to the goal point, “Susakimachi” – a total distance of approximately 5km. It takes roughly 30 minutes to complete the race from start (Kushida Shrine) to finish (Susakimachi). With a gross weight of one tonne, seeing these huge kaki-yama being raced through the streets in such a short time frame is truly an intense and exciting sight to see. About 20 or so members carry the kaki-yama at any one time, but interchanges with other members on stand-by also take place at regular intervals throughout the race. Aside from these members, there are also those who perform traffic control at the front of the group, as well as “saki-bashiri” (front runners) and “ato-oi” (chasers) groups at the immediate front and rear of the kaki-yama. So in any one ‘nagare’ there may be upwards of 100 members running through the streets of Hakata at any one time. Hakata has many narrow roads and various other elements that reflect the city’s former days as a merchant town, and seeing these narrow roads packed with hoards of running men is one aspect of this event not to be missed.

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