Karigane Festival 2019

Two years ago, I attended the Karigane Festival in Fuji City with two friends who live there. (I posted someone else's video about it on my post two years ago.)

The festival site from afar

Mt. Fuji from the festival site

A girl had this little bunny out for a walk in the park

My friends and I watched others participate in the fire throwing two years ago.  This year, we were fire throwers!  We arrived at 4:30 pm in order to sign up.  There is a limited to the number of people who can do it.  The officials checked to see that we had long sleeved shirts and long pants, closed shoes, and gloves.  We were issued helmets and goggles, which are also required. After eating dinner, we returned for the big show.

There are three fire poles.  The low one is first and for childern - yes! children participate in fire throwing too.

When the gate opened for the adults to enter the fire area, my friends and I were surprised that there was no safety talk or any kind of direction, we were just left to play with fire.  Someone gave me my fire on the rope and I was separated from my friends as I tried to find a place where I wouldn't be hit by others swinging their fires.

People are very close to each other.  In addition, you have to be on the look out for fire thrown from across the circle as it comes down.  It was extremely scary, but also very exciting.

After you throw your fire, you go back to the fire pits to get a new fire on a rope to try again.

After the top catches on fire, you can stand back and watch.

They did have firefighters and hoses when the fire was getting too too out of control.

They just let it burn until it finally falls over.

Because of the smoke and the scariness, I decided to watch and not to participate in the third pole fire throwing.  I found my two friends who confessed they just dropped their fire without throwing because they thought it was too dangerous.

Even after the top was clearly on fire and burning away, people continued throwing!

I forgot to tell you, fireworks are inside the baskets, so they shoot off too.

I'm glad I did it, but I probably don't need to do it again.  I can just watch the next time!