Deputy mayor of Japan's Saijo dies after becoming trapped under festival float

Akihiro Nabae, the deputy mayor of the city of Saijo in western Japan, has died after becoming trapped beneath a giant festival float on Saturday.

Nabae was helping other participants carry the float during a local festival. He was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead, according to local media cited by The Guardian and the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Police have not determined whether the float fell on him or whether he lost his balance. The circumstances remain under investigation.

The floats weigh up to about 3 tonnes. The Guardian attributes that figure to media reports. The SCMP describes the float as a three-tonne wooden structure.

Two other people died in separate incidents at traditional festivals in Japan shortly before Nabae's death.

Reported details

According to The Guardian, Nabae was 62. Citing local media, The Guardian reports that no one else was injured in the Saijo incident. It also cites media reports that 11 floats were lined up side by side at the time of the accident.

The SCMP reports that Saijo is in the Ehime region. It says city and police officials announced the death on Monday.

The Guardian reports that the Saijo festival has been held every year since the Edo period (1603-1868). Citing the Jiji news agency, it says the festivals feature more than 100 floats. They are held to thank Shinto deities for plentiful grain crops.

The Guardian also reports on the two earlier deaths. Less than two weeks before Nabae's death, a 51-year-old man was crushed beneath a wooden float he was riding at a Danjiri festival in southern Osaka prefecture. The same day, a 48-year-old man was killed in a similar accident at a Danjiri event in a nearby town. The Guardian reports that police said 16 people were injured in the Danjiri incidents.

According to police cited by The Guardian, floats weighing up to 4 tonnes toppled while hundreds of men pulled them at speed around tight corners. These turns, known as yarimawashi, are a highlight of the festivals. The Guardian adds that in February, two people died in a crush at the "naked man festival" in Okayama.

What remains unclear

The reports do not establish exactly how Nabae died. They also differ on timing. The Guardian says the Osaka deaths happened "less than two weeks" earlier. The SCMP says "a week" earlier. Neither gives exact dates. The SCMP does not name the festivals where the earlier deaths occurred. The reports do not include any statement from the Saijo festival organisers. They do not describe the safety measures in place at the event.

What each side says

Saijo mayor Mitsuyoshi Ochi expressed shock and sadness in a statement, according to The Guardian. "Just when we were about to work together to build a new administration for Saijo, this tragedy occurred. I still can't believe it. I offer my heartfelt condolences," he said.

Police are investigating "whether the float fell down or he somehow lost his balance," the SCMP quoted Makoto Hagiyama, deputy director of a local police station, as saying.

Analysis

Three deaths at float festivals within a short period are likely to draw attention to safety at events that involve very heavy structures and large crowds. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any planned changes to safety rules, and the cause of the Saijo death is still under investigation. If police find that the float toppled, the findings could inform discussion of how floats are handled. If they find that Nabae lost his footing, attention could shift to the conditions faced by people who carry the floats. Organisers and authorities may also weigh these risks against the cultural importance of centuries-old traditions.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.