Photo = The "Hanase Matsuage" ritual, with the released flames drawing arcs to the Torogi log and illuminating the night sky (9:06 p.m., August 15, Hanase, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto)

On the evening of August 15, the "Hanase Matsuage" ritual was held on a riverbank in Hanase Yamasu-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, to pray for fire disaster prevention and rich harvest. Under the moonlight, burning parabolas emerged against the night sky as men threw flaming torches with showers of falling sparks and swirling through the air.

About 70 men with hachimaki towels wrapping their heads like headbands gathered at the riverbank where an approximately 20 meter log, the "Torogi," was placed upright. At around half past eight that night, they lit small torches Attached by ropes, called "Agematsu."

With the sounds of bells and drums echoing in the mountains, the men threw the spinning torches into the "Kasa" basket attached at the top of the Torogi log, shouting rallying cries like "Agero! Agero!" meaning raise it, or "Korya!"

The place was filled with the heat of the blazing fires and men's feverish excitement. The spectators also cheered and applauded loudly whenever a flaming Agematsu torch was successfully thrown into the Kasa basket.