Two accidents during traditional Danjiri festivals in Osaka Prefecture left two people dead and 16 others injured. According to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the large wooden floats overturned while being maneuvered through the streets of the cities of Izumisano and Izumiotsu.
The first incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. local time at the Nagataki intersection in Izumisano. Authorities said the float crushed several people. Rescue teams pulled a 51-year-old man from underneath it and took him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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Seven other people, aged between 10 and 59, were also taken to hospital. Two of them had suffered serious injuries.
About two hours after the first accident, another float overturned in the city of Izumiotsu. Local emergency services received a call about the incident at 1:20 p.m. at the Miyamachi intersection. A 48-year-old factory worker from the city of Izumi became trapped beneath the wooden structure and died. Nine other people were taken to hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening.
Both victims were actively participating in the festival and held the role known as “takari.” They tried to keep the heavy structures balanced while navigating turns, but were crushed by the floats after they lost their balance.
In both accidents, the overturning occurred during the “yarimawashi” maneuver, in which participants aim to turn the multi-ton floats sharply and quickly without reducing their momentum. Police are investigating the exact causes, while it is suspected that the floats lost their balance during sudden right-hand turns.
Danjiri festivals are part of a well-known Japanese tradition, particularly in the Osaka region. Local communities gather to guide large wooden floats through city streets, decorated with carvings and traditional ornaments. The floats can weigh several tons, are pulled by large groups of people using ropes, and are accompanied by music and cheering.
