Deputy mayor of Saijo dies crushed by festival float in Japan

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 10:37 · Archive

Akihiro Nabae, 62, deputy mayor of Saijo in western Japan, died after being crushed beneath a giant festival float on Saturday.

Akihiro Nabae, the deputy mayor of Saijo in western Japan, died on Saturday after becoming trapped beneath a giant festival float. The 62-year-old was carrying the float with other participants when the incident occurred at around 5:45 p.m. on a riverbed. He was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead, with no one else reported injured.

Nabae's death comes less than two weeks after two men died in similar accidents at Danjiri festivals in Osaka prefecture. A 51-year-old man was crushed beneath a wooden float he was riding at one festival, and the same day a 48-year-old man was killed in a similar accident at a nearby town. Police said 16 people were injured in those incidents.

According to police, the accidents occurred when the floats, which can weigh up to four tonnes, toppled as they were being pulled at speed around tight corners by hundreds of men. These sharp turns, known as yarimawashi, are a highlight of the festivals, originally held to pray for good autumn harvests. It remains unclear whether Nabae lost his balance or if the contraption toppled on to him.

The mounting toll of fatal accidents has raised concerns over the safety of Japan's traditional festivals.

How it is being reported

• Safety concerns mount over Japan’s traditional festivals after string of fatal accidentsDeputy mayor of Saijo died after becoming trapped under float, days after two similar incidents elsewhere There is mounting concern over the safety of Japan’s traditional festivals after the death of a senior local official who was reportedly crushed beneath a float at an event at the weekend, days after two men died in similar accidents in another part of the country. Akihiro Nabae, the deputy mayor of Saijo in western Japan , was carrying a giant float with other participants in a festival on Saturday when he became trapped beneath the structure, Agence France-Presse reported. Nabae, 62…The Guardian · 19 Oct, 10:08
• Deputy mayor of city in Ehime dies after being crushed by festival floatAkihiro Nabae, 62, was among those carrying the float when the incident occurred on a riverbed in the city at around 5:45 p.m.The Japan Times · 18 Oct, 06:36

In this story: Akihiro Nabae · Saijo · Osaka · Japan

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem