Discover the craft of decorating the floats (yamakasa) of the Kurosaki Gion Yamakasa Festival in Kitakyushuthrough a gallery tour led by craftsman Tomita Yoshihisa and Tradition/Rebellion exhibition co-curator and Director of Programming, Simon Wright.
During the tour, Tomita Yoshihisa explains how he creates mesmerizing festival floats known for their elaborate decoration and storytelling. He shares the inspirations, ideas and techniques behind his work. Japan House’s Director of Programming and exhibition co-curator Simon Wright reflects on how the Tradition/Rebellion exhibition came together in collaboration with partners from Kitakyushu, and introduces the Kurosaki Gion Yamakasa Festival, one of the festivals where Tomita Yoshihisa’s floats come to life.
The tour begins on the Ground Floor of Japan House London, by the window display of a festival float, before moving to the Gallery on the Lower Ground Floor. Questions are encouraged and visitors are welcome to continue exploring the exhibition at their own pace afterwards.
This event is part of a series celebrating the opening of the exhibition Tradition/Rebellion: Coming-of-Age Style in Kitakyushu, Japan which is on display in the Gallery at Japan House London from 11 November 2026 to 18 April 2027.
About the speaker
Tomita Yoshihisa
Born in 1987 in Tagawa, near Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture, Tomita Yoshihisa is the third-generation owner of Tomita Ningyō, a workshop that creates the elaborate figures adorning festival floats featured in annual festivals in the Chikuhō area of central Fukuoka Prefecture and Kitakyushu City. Bringing his own perspective and distinctive style to yamakasa floats, he is one of the region’s leading young ningyō-shi (‘doll makers’).
Image: courtesy of Tomita Yoshihisa
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