Hakata Gion Yamakasa (博多祇園山笠) was held last week. The festival is easily one of Japan's most exciting. Teams of men race down the narrow streets of Hakata, carrying a one-ton yama (float) on their shoulders and chanting "Oisa! Oisa! This kakegoe (掛け声, cheer) is, I believe, unique to Fukuoka City. In most other areas, participants in matsuri shout "Wasshoi! Wasshoi!" (わっしょい、わっしょい).

In Karatsu, Saga, the cheer during the Karatsu Kunchi festival is "Enya! Enya!" (エンヤー、エンヤー) or "Yoisā! Yoisā!" (ヨイサー、ヨイサー).

In Õita, they say "Mossē, Mossē!" (モッセー、モッセー) or "Yassē, Yassē!" (やっセー、やっセー).