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.

The matsuri is meant to symbolize how the five cities came together to form Kitakyushu and the spiritual uniting of the people.。

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。

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)