Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Danjiri festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by people through a street in Kishiwada during the Danjiri festival in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 13, 2025.

E

Japan: Historic Kishiwada Danjiri Festival Kicks Off in Osaka With Massive Floats

The annual Kishiwada Danjiri Festival began on September 13 in Kishiwada City, Osaka Prefecture, running through September 14. Thirty-four massive wooden floats, each over 4 meters tall and weighing more than 4 tons, raced through the city streets of the Kishiwada and Haruki districts to the spirited chant of “Sorya, Sorya.” Festival participants in matching happi coats pulled the floats with ropes, while “daiku-gata” performers danced atop the roofs with fans. At intersections, the floats performed the festival’s signature “yarimawashi,” a dramatic 90-degree turn executed at high speed, thrilling spectators with cheers. Drums, flutes, and bells added to the festive atmosphere. The festival, held for over 300 years since the Edo period, continues late into the evening on September 13, with a ceremonial shrine visit (“Miyairi”) scheduled on September 14.

E

Float-pulling festival in Osaka

KISHIWADA, Japan, Sept. 14 Kyodo - People pull a "Danjiri" float in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 14, 2024, on the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival. (Kyodo)

E

Float-pulling festival in Osaka

People pull a "Danjiri" float in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 14, 2024, on the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Float-pulling festival in Osaka

People pull a "Danjiri" float in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 14, 2024, on the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Float-pulling festival in Osaka

People pull a "Danjiri" float in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 14, 2024, on the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Float-pulling festival in Osaka

People pull a "Danjiri" float in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 14, 2024, on the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Danjiri festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by people through a street in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 16, 2023, the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Danjiri festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by people through a street in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 16, 2023, the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Danjiri festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by people through a street in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 16, 2023, the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Danjiri festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by people through a street in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 16, 2023, the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Danjiri festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by people through a street in Kishiwada in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka on Sept. 16, 2023, the first day of the two-day Danjiri festival.

E

Kishiwada Steel's signboard and logo

E

Kishiwada Steel's exterior, logo and signage

E

2-day Danjiri Festival in Kishiwada begins

OSAKA, Japan - A danjiri, an elaborately carved traditional wooden float, is pulled by neighborhood people through a street in the city of Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2014, as the annual two-day Danjiri Festival began. The festival features 34 teams pulling floats at breakneck speeds, with neighborhood leaders hopping and dancing on the top of the floats.

E

2-day Danjiri Festival in Kishiwada begins

OSAKA, Japan - A danjiri, an elaborately carved traditional wooden float, is pulled by neighborhood people through a street in the city of Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2014, as the annual two-day Danjiri Festival began. The festival features 34 teams pulling floats at breakneck speeds, with neighborhood leaders hopping and dancing on the top of the floats.

E

City aims to restore forest of owls

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Feb. 3, 2014 shows hills in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, where a project is under way to plant trees and restore owl-friendly forests.

E

Students' parents remove turf in school yard

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Dec. 16, 2010, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the yard of Haruki Junior High School in Kishiwada, Osaka. Parents of students who are members of baseball or softball clubs at the city government-run school removed the lawn from the field without permission after claiming it was hard for their children to practice on the bumpy ground.

E

92-yr-old woman undergoes heart surgery

OSAKA, Japan - Shikae Ide (L), 92, laughs with surgeon Masahiko Onoe at Kishiwada City Hospital in Osaka Prefecture on May 13, 2010, after she had two kinds of heart operation, a rare move for a patient over 90. The doctor said the operations were a success and Shikae can walk using a walker and take meals.

E

Nationwide quake drill held on disaster preparedness day

KISHIWADA, Japan - Rescue workers conduct a quake drill in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, on Sept. 1, Japan's Disaster Preparedness Day, on the assumption that a magnitude-8.6 earthquake centering on the southern coast of Wakayama has jolted Aichi, Mie, Wakayama and Kochi prefectures and derailed a train running on elevated rail tracks. A total of 590,000 people took part in various disaster preparation drills in 30 of Japan's 47 prefectures. (Pool photo)

E

Nationwide quake drill held on disaster preparedness day

KISHIWADA, Japan - Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (C) inspects a quake drill in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, on Sept. 1. The government held a nationwide quake drill, with 590,000 people from 30 of Japan's 47 prefectures taking part under the assumption that a magnitude-8.6 earthquake centering on the southern coast of Wakayama hits a wide area covering Aichi, Mie, Wakayama and Kochi prefectures.

E

Bank of Ikeda, Senshu Bank to integrate operations

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken on Feb. 21 shows the head office of Senshu Bank, in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, which is in final talks with the Bank of Ikeda to integrate their operations under a joint holding company.

E

NHK head apologizes for reporter's arrest in attempted arson

TOKYO, Japan - NHK President Genichi Hashimoto speaks in reply to a question at a press conference at his office in Tokyo on Nov. 6. He offered an apology for one of the public broadcaster's reporters who was arrested on suspicion of setting fire at a construction site in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture.

E

K-Jet ferry linking Kansai airport with Kobe takes on water

OSAKA, Japan - The K-Jet Emerald Wing high-speed ferry boat is towed to a port in the city of Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, on Jan. 3 after taking on water. Twenty-three passengers and crew members aboard the 165-ton ferry were safe. It was sailing from from Kansai International Airport to Kobe.

E

2 men attack cash car in Osaka, steal 50 mil. yen

OSAKA, Japan - Police examine a car used to transport money in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture on Sept. 28 from which two men stole a duralumin case containing some 50 million yen. They attacked the car around 9:15 a.m. in front of the Shimomatsu branch of Senshu Shinkin Bank.

E

Float-pulling "Danjiri" festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by neighborhood people through a street in Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture on Sept. 17, 2022, as the two-day Danjiri festival began. It was the first time in three years that the traditional festival took place without COVID-19 restrictions.

E

Float-pulling "Danjiri" festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by neighborhood people through a street in Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture on Sept. 17, 2022, as the two-day Danjiri festival began. It was the first time in three years that the traditional festival took place without COVID-19 restrictions.

E

Float-pulling "Danjiri" festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by neighborhood people through a street in Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture on Sept. 17, 2022, as the two-day Danjiri festival began. It was the first time in three years that the traditional festival took place without COVID-19 restrictions.

E

Float-pulling "Danjiri" festival in Osaka

A Danjiri float is pulled by neighborhood people through a street in Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture on Sept. 17, 2022, as the two-day Danjiri festival began. It was the first time in three years that the traditional festival took place without COVID-19 restrictions.

E