Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This is the moment Japanese festival goers pull a large float through the streets and crash into a utility pole which results in a young woman breaking her leg.
Traditional harvest festivals where revellers shoulder portable shrines called ‘Mikoshi’ and pull ornate ‘Danjiri’ carts through the streets are common at this time of the year.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
Cart-pulling festivals known as ‘Danjiri Matsuri’ are particularly popular in the southern Japanese region of Kansai and the elaborate floats depict folkloric scenes and ancient battles, according to reports.
The carts can often weigh over four tons and reach heights of up to 15 metres (49 feet).
Netizens have slammed the traditional festival event after five people were injured in Danjiri Matsuri events in the region, including a young woman who sustained a broken leg.
As seen in the footage, the Danjiri carts are pulled by groups of festival goers through the crowded streets at high speeds.
In one video, a float is seen being pulled into a utility pole before a woman screams out in pain after reportedly breaking her leg.
The second video shows the same incident from a different angle.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
The third clip shows another out-of-control float crashing into the side of a building in the city of Kaizuka.
The fourth video shows a Danjiri hitting a utility pole in the city of Sakai.
Another video filmed at night shows a Danjiri hitting a pole before spectators scream in shock and dozens of people fall onto the street.
Netizens criticised the dangerous event with comments such as: “It seems that tradition is more important that protecting residents and saving lives.”
One netizen said: “The festival is not the problem, they just need to ban reckless speeds that damage public spaces.”
Another netizen commented: “It is not as easy as banning the festival because it has centuries of history behind it.”
And another netizen wrote: “Times have changes and these urban areas are far more built up than before, therefore the festival’s extreme elements need to change too.”
Video Credit: AsiaWire
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