The festival named Tamaseseri Festival is celebrated in the 3rd day of the month of January and the venue is Hakozaki Shrine located in the Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City. In this fest, men wearing (only) loincloths fight for an 8 kg treasure ball, which is 30 cm in diameter. The ball is known to bring good fortune on men who are able to lift it over their head. These men are divided into the Land Team and the Sea Team. The first team consisting of farmers working on the land and the second team includes fishermen working at sea. The fate of the harvest or large catch for fishermen is mostly determined by the fact as to which team wins the competition and hands the ball over to the Shinto priest. This festival is one of the 3 most important fests of the land and has a history of 500 years. It’s known to originate from the legend of the dragon god (ryujin) offering two balls to Empress Jingu.
In the afternoon 2 purified balls, which represent masculinity and femininity respectively known as ‘Yang’ and ‘Yin’ are carried to the Tamatori Ebisu Shrine and the ‘Yin’ ball is dedicated to this shrine. Initially kids carry the ‘Yang’ ball towards Hakozaki Shrine and in the mid way the ball is handed over to the men accompanied by the cries of ‘Oisa, Oisa’, as the ambience becomes more feverous of excitement. The excitement peaks as men pass under the torii gate and in the meantime they are splashed continuously with cold water though it’s already winter in January. As it’s believed that only touching the ball would bestow good fortune. So the spectators also try to reach out and touch the ball. The Shinto priest waits at the romon tower gate for the ball and whichever team hands over the ball to him means victory in their professional realm the whole year.
In the afternoon 2 purified balls, which represent masculinity and femininity respectively known as ‘Yang’ and ‘Yin’ are carried to the Tamatori Ebisu Shrine and the ‘Yin’ ball is dedicated to this shrine. Initially kids carry the ‘Yang’ ball towards Hakozaki Shrine and in the mid way the ball is handed over to the men accompanied by the cries of ‘Oisa, Oisa’, as the ambience becomes more feverous of excitement. The excitement peaks as men pass under the torii gate and in the meantime they are splashed continuously with cold water though it’s already winter in January. As it’s believed that only touching the ball would bestow good fortune. So the spectators also try to reach out and touch the ball. The Shinto priest waits at the romon tower gate for the ball and whichever team hands over the ball to him means victory in their professional realm the whole year.
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