A festival participant swings a fiery torch at the annual Hifuri Shinji at Aso Shrine

A festival participant swings a fiery torch at the annual Hifuri Shinji at Aso Shrine (Photo: Paul Bartok)

Hifuri Shinji at Aso Shrine

A fiery ritual at the base of volcanic Mt Aso

Mandy Bartok Mar 20, 2013 - 1 min read

A festival participant swings a fiery torch at the annual Hifuri Shinji at Aso Shrine

The torii gate of Aso Shrine lit up by the fire's glow

A volunteer swings a torch

A host of fiery torches on the path in front of Aso Shrine

The audience comes down to try their hand

Audience members swing torches in a nearby field

Once a year, locals and visitors alike gather after dusk on the grounds of Aso Shrine in rural Kumamoto for the Hifuri Shinji, or Fire Swinging Ritual. Bales of straw are set ablaze and swung round in circles on the main pathway in front of the shrine in an appeal to the shrine deity for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. Once the prayers have been fulfilled, the audience is welcomed onto the grounds to swing their own fiery bundles. A fascinating, beautiful and slightly dangerous festival, all rolled into one!

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Find out more about Aso Shrine.

Mandy Bartok

Mandy Bartok @mandy.bartok

Japan resident for 10 years, with time spent in Okinawa, Kumamoto and Tokyo.