The main event at Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Festival is a fiery battle for a temporary wooden shrine. Men of the village, aged 25 and 42, which are considered unlucky years in Japan, fight protecting it from fire. Tens of villagers carry straw torches and attempt to burn down the shrine, while the 25 year-olds defend the structure and the 42 year-olds sit on top of it and sing. The attackers are children at first, but eventually grown-ups storm the shrine and violent fire fights erupt.
This festival takes place since 1863 and is meant to celebrate the birth of a family's first child, and pray for their good health, and a good harvest.
Nozawa Onsen, Nagano, Japan, 2023