Note: The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival — A Japanese Festival Known as a “Strange Festival”

A strange festival appeared in one of my stories.
This festival was something I created myself: everyone dresses in a way that makes it impossible to tell front from back, so villagers can enjoy themselves freely, without worrying about who is who.
There is no real festival that served as a model for it, and I don’t believe there is anything quite like it.

That leads me to today’s topic: so-called “strange festivals” in Japan.

Japan has an unusually large number of festivals for its land area.
One reason is that most Shinto shrines hold at least one festival each year, and the number of shrines alone is said to be between eighty and ninety thousand.
On top of that, many other organizations and communities hold their own festivals, so the total number becomes enormous.

With that many festivals, it’s inevitable that some of them come to be called “strange festivals.”
However, none of these festivals were created with the intention of being strange.
They are all serious efforts, carried out sincerely as acts of prayer.
As a result of developing in their own unique ways, they are labeled “strange” by outsiders.

The festival I would like to focus on here is the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival.
In this festival, each neighborhood pulls its own danjiri—a large wooden float—running at full speed through the town toward the shrine.

Inside the danjiri, some people play danjiri-bayashi using flutes, small drums, gongs, and large drums.
Others climb onto the roof to give instructions, or perform dances to energize the festival.

Yes—people ride on the roof while the danjiri is pulled at speed by a large group.
And since this takes place in the middle of town, there are curves.
Not the gentle curves of a racetrack, but ordinary street corners—sharp, right-angled turns you’d find anywhere in the world.

Making these turns boldly is one of the highlights of the festival, but as you can imagine, it is dangerous.
Injuries occur almost every year, and houses along the route can also be damaged.
Although rare, there have been years in which fatal accidents occurred.

Some may think, “If it’s that dangerous, why not put stronger safety measures in place?”
Of course, very few people involved would say that the current situation is perfectly fine. In fact, insurance coverage is mandatory, and participation qualifications are clearly defined by operating rules.
Even so, no matter how much attention is paid to safety, the danjiri festival itself is inherently dangerous, and accidents cannot be completely prevented.

That is the reality of the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival.

There are no rankings or awards in this festival.
So why do people engage in something so dangerous?

One might say, “to pray for a good harvest,” but in modern times, few participants would give that as their main reason.

This so-called strange festival is something many people in the area take part in from childhood.
They remain involved as they grow into adulthood.
I’ve even heard stories of people returning home just for this festival, no matter where they go to study or work.
Taking that into account, I believe the festival continues largely because of the bonds it creates and sustains.

Although I’ve introduced it as a “strange festival,” it is in fact a respectable tradition with a history of around 300 years.
As mentioned at the beginning, it is a serious act of devotion, carried out as a form of prayer, so I hope there will be no misunderstanding.

If you’re interested, I recommend watching videos of the festival.
If you visit in person, please be mindful of your safety and enjoy responsibly.
There are cases where spectators are injured as well.

For reference, Kishiwada City is located in Osaka Prefecture.
Osaka has the second-largest economy in Japan after Tokyo, and it neighbors Kyoto and Nara, both known for their historic architecture.
The food is excellent, so if you ever have the chance, please do visit.
It is my birthplace.

I hope we meet again.