Taimatsu Akashi, one of the three great fire festivals

On a recent visit to one of Japan's official top 100 parks, Midorigaoka Park in Sukagawa City (Fukushima), I saw a plaque (pictured) marking the location of "Taimatsu Akashi". Later that day, in Tette - an architecturally beautiful civic center in the city - I saw photos of large totem pole like bundles of straw on fire. Again, with "Taimatsu Akashi" advertised. 

I had never heard of Taimatsu Akashi, but I was very curious. So when I got home from our road trip, I looked it up online. Turns out, there is a really great English language website packed with information about what to do and see in (and by) Fukushima Prefecture. There I learned that Taimatsu Akashi is one of the three major fire festivals in Japan. And that its not straw, but wooden poles that they light on fire. Reportedly it has a history of more than 400 years and is dedicated to samurai and villagers who lost their lives in the area in a great battle.

Great news is, its an Autumn festival, so its coming up in a couple of months. Generally, it is held on the second Saturday of November. If the pandemic hasn't effected it and they hold it as normal this year, it should be on Saturday November 11th 2023. If you are going to be in Fukushima or the Tohoku region in November, it maybe an event to bookmark.  More information on the official site, in English.