Toimisaki Fire Festival

About this event

The Toimisaki Fire Festival is a heroic fire festival where people called "seko" throw torches toward the top of a giant single hashiramatsu (wooden pole) representing a giant serpent. This festival reenacts a legend in which a Buddhist monk named Seitokubo defeated a giant serpent that once tormented the people by using a fire attack. At the climax of the festival, torches are thrown toward the top of the approximately 30-meter-high wooden pole while leading a chant, and a column of fire erupts from the top of the pole representing the mouth of the giant serpent. The mystical parabola drawn by the thrown torches and the flames blowing up from the giant serpent's mouth are truly magnificent. At the top of the wooden pole, there is a section about 40 cm in diameter representing the serpent's mouth, woven from thatch with fireworks set inside. When a torch enters, it ignites the fireworks, and the way the flames vigorously erupt is inspired by the story that when the giant serpent was defeated, it "spewed blood like flames". Before the main event of the wooden pole begins, live guest performances and taiko drumming will take place on a special stage to liven up the venue. The traditional performing art "Toi Usudaiko Dance" will also be performed, and the surrounding area is enveloped in a mystical atmosphere with the sounds of drums and gongs and the light of torches. Formerly popular as the "Jugoya Hashira Matsuri" (Harvest Moon Pole Festival), this festival also carries the meaning of celebrating a bountiful harvest and the bright moon. This fantastical and heroic festival of flames colors the summer night sky.

Venue

Toimisaki Fire Festival Square

888 Oonoi, Kushima, Miyazaki 888-0221