The Hakata Dontaku Festival, one of the three major festivals in Hakata, originated from the Hakata Matsubayashi Festival which was first held more than 800 years ago. The festival attracts more than 2 million people from Japan and abroad, and a variety of unique Dontaku groups perform in a parade along Meiji-dori Avenue and on performance stages set up in various locations throughout the city.

It is no exaggeration to say that Hakata's festival season starts with Dontaku. In this article, we will introduce some of the highlights of the Hakata Dontaku Festival.

Dontaku Eve Festival (Thursday, May 2)

On Thursday, May 2, the day before the main Hakata Dontaku Festival, The Dontaku Eve Festival, where flower carts are driven through town, is held. This event helps get people excited for the main event. In addition to the familiar Hakata Matsubayashi, this year a special guest, hitomi, will be performing on stage to get everyone warmed up for the main event. We hope you will enjoy the Dontaku Eve Festival as much as we do.

Dontaku Eve Festival
Date & Time: Thursday, May 2, 16:00 (venue opens) 17:00-20:30 (tentative)
Location: Main festival stage (Fureai Plaza in front of Fukuoka City Hall)
Activities：Hakata Dontaku will be celebrated by the officers of the Dontaku Promotion Association, and those involved in the preparation for the main festival will spend time preparing for the main event which will start on the following day.


Main Program
Part 1: Entrance Ceremony for the officers and Hakata Matsubayashi, Children's dance performance
Part 2: Invited guests: Dontaku-tai performance Special guest: hitomi (singer)

Guest perfomer on the eve of the festival (hitomi)

Born on January 26, 1976, hitomi made her CD debut in November 1994 and is now a mother of four and an active artist. She has a variety of hit songs including “CANDY GIRL,” “LOVE 2000,” and “SAMURAI DRIVE,” and has participated in numerous live performances and events. The world view of the lyrics she creates has gained a lot of support from women of her generation. She will celebrate the 30th anniversary of her debut on November 21, 2024.
Admission: Free

Nishitestu Flower Car

The flower car, which started as a flower train in 1947, will run for three days from May 2 (Thursday) to May 4 (Saturday and national holiday), 2024. This year's flower cars will feature Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, Marine World Uminonakamichi, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks & Avispa Fukuoka, the professional baseball and soccer teams, respectively, of Fukuoka.
In addition to the Dontaku Parade, the Hana Jidosha, or flower cars, will parade along the Meinohama area and Ohashi area for the first time in five years. During the parade period, you can check the current location and operation status of the flower cars from your smartphone or PC on the website “NISHITETSU HANAJIKARU NAVI”, so please check when the cars will be near your location.

The main event of Hakata Dontaku will be held on May 3 and 4, with a parade and various performance. On May 3 and 4, a total of four streams of the “Hakata Dontaku” parade, including three floats of the three gods of fortune (Fukujin, Ebisu, and Daikoku) and a children's float, will make their way around the city in celebration. There are 174 participating groups in the parade. Sightseeing areas will also return for the first time in five years starting in 2019, and this year visitors can enjoy Dontaku with no restrictions.

Hakata Matusbayashi

Hakata Matsubayashi, which opens the Dontaku Parade, is made up of four floats and travels around the city in celebration in addition to the parade. The god of fortune, named after Fukurokuju (a god of wealth and happiness), wears a long, papier-mâché head and a mask of the god of fortune, and rides on a horse with a yellow silk uchikake over a white kimono and a Chinese fan in his hand.

The male Ebisu wears a crow's cap and Ebisu's mask, and rides on horseback in a brocade sleeveless haori jacket with a fishing rod in his right hand and a big dai on his left side. The female Ebisu wears a heavenly crown, holds a jade in her left hand, and rides on a horse in a red haori jacket with a hinoki fan in her hand.

Daikoku wears a yellow silk hood and a Daikoku mask. Daikoku wears a hood of yellow silk and a mask of Daikoku, and carries a large fish sack with a white hakama on his back. In his hand he holds a small mallet. They ride on horses with rice bales on either side. Each horse is surrounded by a group of men dressed in clothing called kamishimo and tatsuzuke, and each horse is accompanied by three kasaboko umbrellas.

Children wear crowns and pull a gallery stand with a girl wearing a dancing gown and a scarlet cape. They dance gracefully to the accompaniment of traditional instruments. A group of adults also accompanies the dancers. Another highlight of the festival is the Hakata Matsubayashi, a folkloric event that is the origin of the Hakata Dontaku festival.

Parade Program

－Friday, May 3

13:05 Ribbon-cutting ceremony (Opening Ceremony)

13:06 National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Assets
Hakata Matsuhayashi Shinko Kyokai, Wakamai Higashi Nagare (Float), and Hakata Takasago-ren

13:43 Approach team
Fukuoka Prefectural Police Band

13:45 VIP Car (Mayor, Governor)
Fukuoka Citizens' Festival Promotion Association Officers' Group” ‘Fukuoka Citizens’ Festival Promotion Association

13:48 Fukuoka Citizens' Festival Promotion Association Officers' Group and Fukuoka Goodwill Ambassadors

13:48 Flower Automobile Corps
Car 1: Kinshai! Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall celebrates its 10th anniversary (Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall)
Car 2: Mato yo! Marine World Umino-nakamichi 35th Anniversary (Marine World Umino-nakamichi)
Car 3: Aim for the top and flap your wings! (Fukuoka Softbank Hawks & Avispa Fukuoka)

13:51 Classical Dontaku Team
Hakata Town Culture Federation, Hakata Niwaka Promotion Association, Niwaka Railway, Hakata Niwaka May Association, Hakata Niwaka Dojo, Hakata Niwaka Children's Association/Hakata Niwaka Ichimon, Hakata Nanotsu Association, Chikuzen Biwa Preservation Society Dontaku-tai, NPO Hakata Koyo Preservation Society, Shintencho Dontaku-tai

14:09 Celebration parade

14:09 Dontaku Plaza
Nakamura Gakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School Baton Club “TEAM OF NAKAMURA”, “4th Music Band, 4th Division, Ground Self-Defense Force

14:13 Last year's prize-winning Dontaku team
Seika Girls High School Brass Band, Hakata Minda Odori Association Dontaku Team, Hakata Shongane, Mayumi Dance Studio, EJC-EMIKA JAZZDANCE CLUB, Fukuoka Minda Odori Shiki no Ka

14:30 Dontaku Corps from each city
Golden Route Dontaku-tai in the West“, ‘Kurume City Jojima Big Lion Dontaku-tai’, ‘Asakura City Akizuki Armor Arrangement Dontaku-tai’, ‘Saikai City Uzuzu Uzuzu Ren Dontaku-tai’, ‘Tachibana Muneshige and Minamijiyo ’Dorotsuku Don” Dontaku-tai", ‘Shimabara Peninsula Dontaku-tai (Minamishimabara City) * Shimabara Peninsula Dontaku-tai at parade time’, ”Shimabara Peninsula Dontaku-dontaku team (Unzen City)", ”Thailand Dontaku-dontaku tea"

14:49 General Dontaku-tei

14:49 Parade type
Malaysia Dontaku Team (Malaysia Tourism Board), Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dontaku Team, TikTok Creator Dontaku Team, Fukuoka City Council Dontaku Team, Fukuoka City Firefighting Band, Fukuoka City Office Dontaku Team, Omatsuri Japan Dontaku Team, Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 JR West Japan Group Dontaku Parade Team, Hakata no Machi Chibikko Dontaku Team, Japan Marine Youth Team, S☆OB's, JR Kyushu Dontaku Parade Team, Kyudenko Dontaku Team, Nishi-Nippon City Bank Dontaku Parade Team, Saibu Gas Group Dontaku Team, Fukuoka Financial Group Dontaku Parade Team, Nisshitsu Dontaku Team, Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Dontaku Team - Brighten Up the World for Years to Come,” ‘Fukuoka All Toyota Group Ying-Ai-Kai Dontaku Team,’ ‘Accenture Corporation,’ ”JMSDF Sasebo Band, Kyushu Maritime Self-Defense Force Cooperation Association, Boy Scouts Fukuoka District, Global Arena Dontaku-tai, Thank You for Your Strength Northern Kyushu General Body 2024 Dontaku-tai, Nippon Designer Gakuin Dontaku-tai, Kiraku-kai, Miyoshi Matsuri Kai

16:02 Street-monk type
Fukuoka Dontaku Yokamon-tai", ‘Shin Nippon Seiyaku Dontaku-tai’, ‘Kyushu University Manabitai’, ‘Rissho Kosei-kai Dontaku Issho-tai’, ‘Fukuoka Community Women's Association Dontaku-tai’, ‘Junior Rhythm Baton Friends Super Angels’, ‘Fukuoka Prefecture Beautiful City Development Council Dontaku-tai’, ‘Kyushu Medical Center Genki Honpo-tai’, ‘Kyushu Medical Center Genki Honpo-tai’, ”Kyushu University of Health Care Center Genki Honpo-tai, Jidokan Aikuru Dontaku-tai, Nihon Nankin Tamasudare Kyokai Hachibo Ryu Kikyo no Kai, Hakata Laughter School Dontaku-tai, BACK TO BACK
Hakata Laughter Juku Dontaku-tai, BACK TO BACK, Hakata Ori wo Houhou-tai, Niko-chan Dontaku-tai

16:30 Dance
Special Olympics Nippon Fukuoka, NTT West Group Fukuoka Dontaku-tai, International Air Academy Flying Squadron, KidZania Fukuoka, JAL Dontaku-tai, Hakata City Citizens' Dontaku-tai, “Movement to Brighten Society Dontaku team, Chuo Ward Dontaku team, Kasuya Town Dontaku team, Miwadai School District Dontaku team, studio GRAIN, Cheerleading team DeaR, Cheerleading team Shining stars, Ayumi Dance Selection, Business Prosperity Selection, Yazuya Dontaku Team, Chikuho Bank Chikappa Team, Central Sports Kids Cheer, Southern Doll Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, Maruyama Dontaku Team, Yamano School Bido Dontaku Team, Miyata Gakuen Dontaku Team, Kyushu Kyoritsu University Shoko Kiyo Feature Dontaku-tai, Hibikas Tenjin, Hyuga Hyottoko Odori Hakata Koikai, Pops Okinawa Sanshin Dontaku-tai, Nankin Tamasudare Belly, Fortune, and Good Luck Society, Satsumasendai Odori Daiko Dontaku-tai, Ushibuka Haya Preservation Society, and Scheherazade.

19:00 end

－Saturday, May 4

14:05 Grand Parade of Celebration

14:05 Dontaku Plaza
Fukuoka City Fire Band

14:07 Flower Automobile Team
Car 1: Kinshai! Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall celebrates its 10th anniversary (Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall)
Car 2: Mato yo! Marine World Umino-nakamichi 35th Anniversary (Marine World Umino-nakamichi)
Car 3: Aim for the top and flap your wings! (Fukuoka Softbank Hawks & Avispa Fukuoka)

14:10 Dondaku Flower Marching Parade

14:10 Preschool, Elementary and Junior High School Division
Fukuoka Izumi Kindergarten Marching Band, Tornados International, Fukuoka Prefecture Elementary School Joint Band, Tenrikyo Fukuoka Parish Boys & Girls Drum & Fife Team, MAKI Baton Twirlers, Fukuoka City Momochi Junior High School Brass Band, Bell Baton Club, Fukuoka Ohori Alumni Uratchi Band Fukuoka Drum and Fife Team", ‘BATON TEAM INFINITY’, ‘Katsuragawa Junior High School, Inazuki-Nishi Compulsory Education School, Tagawa City Tagawa Nishi Junior High School, Fukuoka High School attached to Kinki University, Shunkan Orquesta Joint Wind Band’, ”Fukuoka City Seiryo Junior High School Wind Band

14:35 High School Section
Seika Girls' High School Brass Band", ‘Senshu University Kumamoto Tamana High School VENTURES’, ‘Fukuoka Firebird Baton Team’, ‘Fukuoka University Ohori High School Brass Band’, ‘Baton Place’, ‘Kyushu Sangyo High School Brass Band’, ‘Golden Hearts Baton Team’, ”Fukuoka Maizuru High School, Fukuoka Maizuru Seiwa Junior High School Brass Band“, ‘Hakata Girls’ Junior & Senior High School Baton Club”, “Iizuka High School Baton Twirler Club and Baton Team Selene”, “Oki Gakuen High School Brass Band”, “Minoh Free School High School Brass Band GOLDEN BEARS

14:56 University and General Section
Fukuoka University Cheering and Leading Band and Fukuoka University Wakaba High School Symphonic Band Joint Band", ‘Gakushoukai Children's Home Hakubai Gakuen’, ‘Fukuoka Prefectural Kashii High School Symphonic Band Alumni Association’, ‘FUKOKA DreamScouts Dontaku-dai’ (FUKOKA DreamScouts Dontaku-dai)

15:08 Guest Band
Nakamura Gakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School Baton Club TEAM OF NAKAMURA", ‘4th Music Band, 4th Division, Ground Self-Defense Force’, ”Fukuoka Prefectural Police Band

15:14 Dontaku Corps, last year's prize winners
Mayumi Dance Studio, Hakata Shongane, Hakata Mindaori Association Dontaku Team

15:21 Dontaku teams from each city
Michinoku Yume Plaza Dontaku Troupe, Satsumasendai Odori Daiko Dontaku Troupe, Azumino City Dontaku Troupe, Republic of Indonesia Dontaku Troupe, Kingdom of Thailand Dontaku Troupe

15:31 General Dontaku Corps

15:31 Parade type
FUKUOKA NEPAL SOCIETY, Vietnam Festival Fukuoka Executive Committee, Fukuoka International Students Association (FOSA), Fukuoka-Myanmar Friendship Association, Kyushu Mongoltono Friendship Association, Malaysia Dontaku Corps (Malaysia Tourism Board), Kyushu Taiwanese Hometown Association, Anmitsu Anmitsu Hime, Shintencho Dontaku-tai, Hakata Kawabata Dontaku-tai, Seinan Gakuin Dontaku-tai, Miyata Gakuen Dontaku-tai, Kyushu University Ohashi Campus Geiko Festival Dontaku-tai, Kinko-kyo Marching Parade Team, JSDF Western Air Band Dontaku-tai, JSDF Alumn Kyushu Tsubasa-kai, JSDF Comic Pub Academy Comic Pub Academy

16:04 Street Monk type
Hakata Laugh Juku Dontaku-tai, BACK TO BACK, Dontaku Cosplay Parade, Song & Rhythm Gymnastics, Fukuoka Student Blood Donation Dontaku-tai, SMILE PRESENTS with Fukuoka Taiyo Lions Club, Hakata Yoka Yoka Genki-tai, Mommy More and Friends, Fukuoka City Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan Dontaku-tai, Hakata Machiya Furusato Kan Dontaku-tai, Onuguni's great man Dr. Shibasaburo New 1,000-yen bill celebration team, Sori Heiseiryu, Okinawa Sanshin Dontaku-tai, Reiwa Union Fukuoka Tengu-ren, Fukkoi Dontaku-tai

16:36 Dance form
Fukuoka Minami Mimai Association, JFH Dontaku Team, RFC Cheerleading with Fukuoka Toyota Team, S-TRIBE, Yurinoki BatonStudio, SHOJIN ENTERTAINMENT LABO Hakata Dontaku Team, Hyuga Hyottoko Odori Hakata Koikai, Hakata Bishin Taiko Yume Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko", ‘Remember 3.11 Kyushu Hula Girls’, ‘Kasuya Dontaku-tai’, ‘IDOL PARADE’, ”Osaka/Kansai Expo Caravan Dontaku-tai

17:04 VIP Car (Mayor and Head of the Council)

17:04 Fukuoka Citizens' Festival Promotion Association Executive Group, Fukuoka Goodwill Ambassadors

17:09 Dance type
Central Sports Kids Cheer", ‘Cheer Cats Avispa’, ‘Color Guard Dance Team Shiny☆Girl’, ”Ayumi Dance Selection

17:17 Flower Automobile Team
Car 1: Kinshai! Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall celebrates its 10th anniversary (Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum in Mall)
Car 2: Mato yo! Marine World Umino-nakamichi 35th Anniversary (Marine World Umino-nakamichi)
Car 3: Aim for the top and flap your wings! (Fukuoka Softbank Hawks & Avispa Fukuoka)

17:50 Total dance

18:20 "Iwaimedeta" , "Teippon"

19:00 end

Dontaku Performances Stages (39 locations)

Hakata Dontaku is said to derive its name from the Dutch word Zondag (holiday). This year, about 2 million people are said to gather for the two-day festival on May 3 and 4, making it the largest festival during the Golden Week period.

We hope you will enjoy Hakata Dontaku, a traditional Hakata event where various events are held on performance stages. Men and women of all ages parade through the streets in various virtual performances while playing traditional flutes, turning the whole city into a Dontaku festival.

Hakata Dontaku Port Festival

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