The deputy mayor of Saijo, Ehime Prefecture, died on Saturday after being trapped beneath a festival float during the Saijo Festival, police said. Akihiro Nabae, 62, was among those carrying the float when the incident occurred on a riverbed in the city at around 5:45 p.m. He was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead about an hour later.
According to the police and the municipal government, the float, known as a taikodai, stood about 5.3 meters tall and weighed between 2 and 3 metric tons. At the time of the accident, 11 floats were lined up side by side for a traditional contest known as kakikurabe, in which teams of carriers compete to demonstrate their strength and skill in maneuvering the floats. The Saijo Festival is a collective name for the annual festivals held at four shrines in the city.
Dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), the festival features more than 100 floats and other portable structures, including mikoshi, or portable shrines, and danjiri festival floats. Nabae had previously served as director of the city’s environmental department and took office as deputy mayor in July this year. Mayor Mitsuyoshi Ochi expressed shock and sorrow over Nabae’s death.
I still cannot believe it. I offer my heartfelt condolences,” Ochi said in a statement. The Saijo Police Station is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Nabae’s death comes just a week after two people died in separate incidents at danjiri festivals in Osaka Prefecture.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
