A traditional festival in Japan has ended in tragedy after the Deputy Mayor of Saijo City, Akihiro Nabae, was crushed to death by a massive festival float during an annual celebration in Ehime Prefecture.
Nabae, 62, died on Saturday after the accident occurred during the Saijo Festival, a popular cultural event known for its large, heavy floats and traditional displays.
According to reports, the deputy mayor was among the participants carrying the float when the incident happened on a riverbed in Saijo City at about 5:45 p.m. He was immediately rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead approximately one hour later.
Police confirmed that no other person was injured in the incident.
The float involved in the accident, known locally as a taikodai, was approximately 5.3 metres tall and weighed between two and three tonnes, according to the police and the municipal government.
Reports indicated that 11 floats had been positioned side by side at the time of the incident for a traditional contest known as kakikurabe. During the event, teams carrying the heavy structures compete to demonstrate their strength, coordination and skill.
The Saijo Festival comprises annual celebrations held at four shrines across the city. The tradition dates back to Japan’s Edo Period, which lasted from 1603 to 1867.
The festival features more than 100 floats and other portable structures, including mikoshi, which are portable shrines, as well as danjiri festival floats.
Nabae’s death has sparked sadness among city officials and residents, particularly as the tragedy occurred during an important cultural celebration.
Saijo Mayor Mitsuyoshi Ochi expressed shock and grief over the loss, saying he had been preparing to work closely with the deputy mayor to build a new administration for the city.
“Just when we were about to work together to build a new administration for Saijo, this tragedy occurred. I still cannot believe it. I offer my heartfelt condolences,” Ochi said in a statement.
Before his appointment as deputy mayor in July 2026, Nabae served as director of Saijo’s environmental department. His death has cut short his tenure in the city’s top administrative leadership.
The incident also comes about a week after two people reportedly died in separate accidents during danjiri festivals in Osaka Prefecture, raising fresh concerns about safety during traditional Japanese celebrations involving heavy floats.
The Saijo Police Station has launched an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident and determine how the tragedy occurred.
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