Yamaksa Dictionary

Yamakasa-no-aruken-Hakatatai

“博多があるから山笠ではない、山笠があるから博多である”:
This famous phrase is also known to many Japanese, that haven’t even seen the festival yet.
It links the Yamakasa to Hakata and roughly translates to this: “Hakata is not the origin of the Yamakasa, but the Yamakasa is the origin of Hakata.” This simple phrase shows the deep connection, that the people of Hakata have with this festival.