F E S T I V A L ／ FEST-230
Fukutani no Ogase (Great Fire Festival of Fukutani)
福谷の大火勢ふくたにのおおがせ
A midsummer fire festival handed down in Fukutani, Ohi Town, Oi District, Fukui Prefecture, and designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Fukui Prefecture. On the summit of Mt. Kasei (Mt. Sajiki), a roughly 15-meter pole is built up with five tiers of crossbeams into a leaf-like shape, and bundles of reeds, pampas grass, and thatch are tied to it to form a giant torch called the "kasei." It is set ablaze and raised, and the burning kasei pole is repeatedly "spun and toppled, raised and spun again"—a bold fire festival of flames dancing in the night sky, offered over two nights to pray for protection from fire and for abundant harvests. It is said to have begun in the mid-Edo period, carrying over 300 years of history. Note that Fukui Prefecture's cultural-property records list it as "suspended" from 2025 (Reiwa 7) onward, and no recent performance has been confirmed; anyone planning a visit must verify the latest status.
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01A roughly 15 m giant torch ("kasei") blazing on the mountaintop
- 02A leaf-shaped frame bristling with reeds, pampas grass, and thatch set alight
- 03The bold sequence of "spinning and toppling, raising and spinning" the burning pole
- 04The nighttime mountaintop setting of Mt. Kasei (Mt. Sajiki)
- 05Over 300 years of prayers for fire protection and abundant harvests since the mid-Edo period
D E E P D I V E