A deputy mayor in Japan died after being crushed by a 3-ton festival float, marking the latest in a series of fatal accidents involving traditional danjiri and taikodai floats. The incident occurred during a performance in Ehime Prefecture, following similar deadly accidents in Osaka that have raised concerns about festival safety management.
Fatal Accident at Saijo Matsuri
Akihiro Nabae, the deputy mayor of Saijo in Ehime Prefecture, died on October 18 after a festival float toppled onto him. The accident took place at approximately 5:45 p.m. during the Saijo Matsuri festival, an event with origins dating back to the Edo period. Nabae, who had assumed office only three months prior, was participating in the kakikurabe
performance, where teams hoist large, decorated floats onto their shoulders.
The float involved was roughly 5.5 meters tall and weighed approximately 3 tons. Local reports indicate the structure lost its balance during the performance and collapsed. Nabae was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after the incident. Authorities have not yet released official findings regarding the cause of the collapse.
Recent Casualties in Osaka Prefecture
The death in Ehime follows a string of accidents involving danjiri festival floats in Osaka Prefecture earlier in October. On October 10, two separate incidents resulted in fatalities as teams maneuvered heavy wooden floats through tight street corners at high speeds, a performance style known as yarimawashi.
In Izumisano, a 51-year-old man was killed when a float overturned during a right turn at an intersection. Roughly two hours later, a second accident in Izumiotsu claimed the life of a 48-year-old company worker. Combined, these two incidents in Osaka left at least 16 other people injured. Another accident occurred on October 3 in Sakai, where 11 men were injured after a float toppled.
Safety Concerns and Performance Risks
The recurring nature of these accidents has prompted local authorities and residents to question how traditional festival performances can be sustained safely. According to reporting from Kyodo News, the individuals most at risk are often those tasked with hanging onto the sides of the floats to maintain their balance during sharp, high-speed turns.
While the festivals are a signature of local culture—often featuring floats carved with folklore and battle scenes—the reliance on physical strength and high-energy maneuvering has come under scrutiny. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent accidents in both Osaka and Ehime.