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| Nagare is a self-governing organization consisting of several
regions. It derives from Taiko-machiwari in which Hideyoshi
Toyotomi determined the borderlines of the areas in the Hakata
District in order to recover the damages from wars some 420 years
ago. |
| Daikoku-nagare consists of twelve regions
which are located along the east side of Hakata River. Various events
of Daikoku-nagare are practiced by an agreement of all the
regions. Since the Middle Ages, Hakata District has adopted a self-governing
system by its residents. At present, the same system can be observed
in Daikoku-nagare: the self-government of each region is
respected to the maximum degree and the centralization of power/authority
to a specific region/person is avoided. |
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At the final moment of determination of an event and
final agreement of promises, a special clap called Te-ippon
is practiced in the Hakata District. In Daikoku-nagare, at
the end of meetings of all regions, Te-ippon is utilized
in order to confirm that all the attendants of the meeting will not
object to the determination and agreement, so that, events can be
conducted smoothly with the collaboration of all twelve regions. In
this manner, conventions and tradition have been handed down from
parents to their children, and from seniors to juniors. |
| The current twelve regions of Daikoku-nagare
are not administrative divisions. They are the product of the reorganization
of old regions in order for Daikoku-nagare to operate Yamakasa
and Matsubayashi. Daikoku-nagare has suffered
from Hakata-Daikuushuu (airbomb attack on the Hakata District),
the reorganization of the borderlines of regions carried out by
Fukuoka City, and the redevelopment of Shimo-Kawabata area.
However, these crises were overcome by the efforts of residents,
and as a result, the current twelve regions have been maintained.
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| On May 3 and 4 every year, Daikoku-nagare
dedicates Hakata-Matsubayashi which is recognized as the
origin of Hakata Dontaku Festival. It also dedicates Hakata
Gion Yamakasa, from July 1 to 15 every year, to Kushida
Shrine which is the main village shrine of the Hakata District. |
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