Osaka’s “danjiri matsuri,” or float festivals, are considered one of the most dangerous events on Japan’s festival calendar. Here’s why.
To a din of cheering crowds, rhythmic chanting and taiko drums, hundreds of people haul massive wooden floats through the streets of Osaka — while running as fast as they can. This chaotic spectacle is one of the Japanese prefecture’s “danjiri matsuri,” or float festivals. Held over a few weeks in October, they’re considered one of the most dangerous events on Japan’s festival calendar. The floats weigh several tons, and accidents sometimes occur while navigating them around sharp corners.
Today, artisans like Akihiko Maeda continue the tradition. The 48-year-old gave up riding the danjiri about a decade ago, but still builds and restores floats for communities in Osaka. “I’ve been working mainly on danjiri for several decades now,” Maeda says. “I’m constantly trying to find ways to capture the cool poses of the sculptures, so that they look as if they’re about to start moving.” Maeda says the process of making a bespoke danjiri can take five years.
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