These photographs were taken during ‘Toba no Himatsuri’ (Fire festival of Toba), which takes place every February in Toba Shinmei-sha (Shrine). Two teams formed by the living area (The east and The west) take part in the festival, and participants are wearing distinctive costume called ‘Neko’. Participants of the two teams compete each other by how fast they take the Shingi (The sacred tree) and Juuninawa (Twelve ropes which symbolize twelve months) out from the burning Suzumi (Big torch) and offer them to God. The harvest and weather are divined by the condition of the burning Suzumi and the winning team. This exciting fire festival is said to have about 1,200 years of history!!

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Wall of Fire

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The 1,200-Year History

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