I'm ashamed to say, I went to see Yamakasa which is a very famous traditional shrine ritual in my home town Fukuoka for the first time. I've been in Fukuoka for long time though.
Yamakasa looks like a portable shrine, and it is a main contents in the ceremony. In the duration of the ritual, there are several pieces of Yamakasa in center of Fukuoka city. They are brought all over the city for scaring away plagues at the climax of ceremony.
The scene of being brought Yamakasa was understandably awesome, but the fact that this ceremony has been inherited for more than 770 years was more impressive for me.
And, Iwaimedeta which is sung by Ichibanyama, the team of starter for the final ritual, was so beautiful. When the team began to sing the song, spectators also sang the song together. The situation made a big chorus, and it boomed out all around the city. The spectacle was quite ambrosial because of having combined with before-day, magic hour.
If you come to Fukuoka in July, I strongly recommend to go seeing Yamakasa. It's worth going to the ceremony even if only going to hear the song.
