Akihiro Nabae, deputy mayor of Saijo city, died after being crushed by a large procession during a festival in Ehime Prefecture. The week before, two other deaths from procession accidents at different festivals were reported.
On 19 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Japanese authorities revealed that Akihiro Nabae, deputy mayor of Saijo city in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, died after being crushed by a large procession during a local festival last Saturday. Nabae was helping carry the procession with other participants when he became trapped underneath, suffering severe injuries. He was taken to hospital but later died.
Makoto Hakiyama, deputy head of the local police station, said the cause of Nabae being crushed is still under investigation, including whether the procession collapsed or he lost footing. Local media reported that 11 procession floats were lined up side by side, possibly weighing a combined total of up to 3 tons, which pinned Nabae’s body.
The Saijo Festival is held annually by the local shrine. The event features elaborately decorated floats shaped like flowers, birds, and warriors. This tradition dates back to Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868) and is held to express gratitude to the gods for abundant grain harvests.
Source: Japan Times