Story perspectives

Deputy Mayor Crushed After 3-Ton Festival Float Trap

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 3:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Deputy Mayor Crushed

Deputy Mayor Akihiro Nabae was crushed by a daikodai float during the Saijo Festival.
The 5.3-meter-tall float weighed between two and three tons.
Nabae, 62, had taken office as deputy mayor in July 2026.
No other participants were injured in the Saijo incident.
Two men died in Danjiri crashes in southern Osaka prefecture earlier in October 2026.

Summary

Police Probe Float

An accident occurred on a riverbank near Iizumi Shrine, one of Saijo’s four festival shrines.
Local Saijo Police Station launched an investigation to determine how the float trapped Deputy Mayor Nabae.
Eleven taikodai floats, each weighing roughly three tons, were lined up side by side for the traditional kakikurabe contest.

History

Historical Context

In 2015, the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival in Osaka Prefecture suffered a tragic float overturn, killing five participants and injuring dozens. Police reports recorded that the 4-meter wooden cart weighed roughly 2.5 tons and struck nearby spectators, prompting a $2 million municipal safety fund. Today’s Saijo incident mirrors that disaster, as Deputy Mayor Akihiro Nabae was trapped by a 5.3-meter, three-ton daikodai float during the kakikurabe contest. The recurrence underscores Japan’s need for stricter float-handling regulations, prompting local governments to revise safety protocols before the next summer festivals.

1 of 3

Deputy Mayor Crushed

Deputy Mayor Akihiro Nabae was crushed by a daikodai float during the Saijo Festival.
The 5.3-meter-tall float weighed between two and three tons.
Nabae, 62, had taken office as deputy mayor in July 2026.
No other participants were injured in the Saijo incident.
Two men died in Danjiri crashes in southern Osaka prefecture earlier in October 2026.

1 / 3