Held in the afternoon on January 3 at Hakozakigu Shrine to predict a bumper crop and good catch for the year, Tamaseseri is a traditional festival of Hakata’s New Year season! “Seseri” means “to touch” or “to compete”, which is just what competitors clad in loincloths do! They are divided into the Land Team (farmers) and the Sea Team (fishermen), and then scramble to capture two 8kg (nearly 18 pound) balls while being drenched with cold water. Tamaseseri was originally the Tamahayashi festival held at Ebisu Shrines throughout the country.