What began as a celebration of tradition, strength and community pride in Japan ended in tragedy when a giant festival float crushed a local government official to death during a traditional contest.
Akihiro Nabae, the 62-year-old deputy mayor of Saijo in Ehime Prefecture, died on Saturday after being involved in an accident during the city’s annual Saijo Festival.
The incident occurred at about 5:45 p.m. on a riverbed, where Nabae was among those helping to carry one of the massive structures used in the festival.
According to reports, he was rushed to a hospital following the accident but was pronounced dead approximately an hour later.
Police said no other person was injured in the incident.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over a festival deeply rooted in the city’s cultural identity, raising fresh concerns following other fatal accidents at similar celebrations in Japan.
A Festival Of Strength Ends In Tragedy
The Saijo Festival is not a single event but a collection of annual celebrations held at four shrines across the city. Its origins date back to Japan’s Edo Period, which lasted from 1603 to 1867.
Over the years, the festival has become known for its impressive procession of more than 100 traditional structures, including mikoshi — portable shrines — and danjiri floats.
Among the most striking features are the taikodai, enormous structures carried by groups of participants as part of the festivities.
The float involved in Saturday’s accident reportedly stood about 5.3 metres tall and weighed between two and three tonnes, making it a formidable structure for participants to manoeuvre.
Such displays require considerable coordination, physical strength and teamwork. But when a structure of that size is being carried by people, even a single accident can have devastating consequences.
The Contest That Preceded The Accident
At the time of the incident, 11 floats had been positioned side by side for a traditional contest known as kakikurabe.
The contest involves teams carrying the heavy structures and demonstrating their strength and skill in moving them. It is one of the festival’s distinctive displays, bringing together participants in a demonstration of physical endurance and cultural tradition.
It was during this gathering that Nabae was caught in the fatal accident.
Authorities have yet to establish the precise circumstances that led to his death. The Saijo Police Station has launched an investigation into the incident.
For now, questions remain about how the accident happened and what measures might prevent similar tragedies during future celebrations.
Mayor Mourns Deputy Mayor’s Death
Beyond the loss of life, the incident has also dealt a personal blow to Saijo’s political leadership.
Saijo Mayor Mitsuyoshi Ochi expressed shock and sadness over Nabae’s death, revealing that the two had been preparing to work together on the city’s administration.
“Just when we were about to work together to build a new administration for Saijo, this tragedy occurred. I still cannot believe it. I offer my heartfelt condolences,” Ochi said in a statement.
Nabae had previously served as director of the city’s environmental department before being appointed deputy mayor in July.
His death has therefore come at a time when he was beginning a new chapter in public service and preparing to work alongside the mayor on the administration’s plans for Saijo.
A Second Festival Tragedy In Just One Week
Nabae’s death comes against the backdrop of other fatal incidents involving traditional festivals in Japan.
You May Like: France Cost Of Living Protests: Everything You Need To Know
Just a week earlier, two people died in separate incidents at danjiri festivals in Osaka Prefecture.
The incidents have brought renewed attention to the risks associated with celebrations involving large, heavy structures moved through coordinated physical effort.
For communities that have preserved these festivals across generations, the traditions represent far more than public entertainment. They are expressions of history, identity and collective belonging.
Yet the death of a participant also underscores the human cost when an event involving enormous structures turns dangerous.
As police investigate the circumstances surrounding Nabae’s death, the city of Saijo is left mourning a public official whose tenure as deputy mayor lasted only a few months.
A celebration intended to honour a centuries-old tradition has instead become a moment of grief for his family, colleagues and the wider community.