This was the craziest festival I have attended in Japan. Let me start by saying my family's home burned up when I was almost six years old and in the first grade, so I have a healthy respect for fire. This festival was scary and dangerous, yet so exciting. I was mesmerized by the fire and couldn't look away. Maybe this is what a moth feels like.
This is one of many Youtube videos posted about this festival.
I met my two friends in Fuji City, where they live and the festival was held. These were our first views of the festival - looks like a normal festival with lots of people and food tents.
In a big field there were three poles with baskets full of wood and fireworks, with a tree and streamers on top. There were firepots at ground level with wood wrapped with rope in the firepots to catch on fire. When the wood was on fire, people swung lit wood around and threw the fire up, trying to land in the basket and catch it on fire. The baskets had fireworks in them that shot off when the baskets caught on fire. The people throwing the fire had helmets on. The rest of us were behind a plastic fence. There were guys with fire hoses on each side.
I took about a million photos, but they are not so good.
Many participants threw fire trying to light the baskets on the poles, one pole at a time. The first was the lowest pole.
The second was middle height pole. The circles of light in the photos are the participants swinging the fire around. The streaks of light in the air are the fires that have been thrown up.
The third was the highest pole and closest to where I was.
The photo below looks like the basket is on fire, but it was actually a fire in the air between me and the basket.
And yes, I am planning to attend this festival next year! Anyone ese want to attend?
