Nutter Japs| 2 die in tree slide event

Eric Frei · 10th May 2010, 09:31 PM

They have this crazy idea of riding logs down hills ..... bit like the bull runs I suppose, every now and then some-one dies.

Two die in Japan's notorious tree-sliding religious festival - Telegraph

Quote:

The two men, named as Noritoshi Masuzawa, 45, and Kazuya Hirata, 33, died after falling from a height of 10 metres as a huge tree-trunk was being raised in the grounds of Suwa Taisha Shrine, in the town of Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture.

Two other men were injured in the same accident, which organisers say occurred when a guide wire supporting the 17-metre tree gave way.

The festival is only held every six years but has a reputation for claiming lives. During the last event, two men drowned when a tree was being manhandled across a river.

But the river crossing and the raising of the pillars are not the most dangerous part of the two month-long Onbashira rites, which can trace their history back more than 1,200 years and translates as the festival of the honoured pillars.

The highlight of the event - and the part which causes the most injuries each year - is when the 16 carefully selected fir trees are brought out of the mountain forests to be slid down steep slopes.

After a Shinto purification ceremony, local men climb aboard the massive tree trunks and endeavour to hang on as they career down the mountainside - a ceremony known as "kiotoshi."

Being killed by one of the trees - which are believed to spiritually renew the four shrines in the city when they are raised at the four points of the compass - is considered to be an honourable death.

Several thousand onlookers were in the grounds of the Suwa Taisha Shrine when the accident happened on, with television coverage showing the men standing on the log as it begins to be raised from the ground. The footage ends with firefighters and medics forcing their way through the crowds with the two men on stretchers.

jmcg.insight.gardens · 10th May 2010, 10:31 PM

Eric Frei · 10th May 2010, 10:47 PM

I know it's in the rules we shouldn't discuss religion but jeez .... it seems to claim many lives!

Jeff Darby · 10th May 2010, 10:50 PM

Crazy japs..

jmcg.insight.gardens · 10th May 2010, 11:20 PM

Is that religion, I thought it was tonnes of wood sliding down a hill at speed with a whole bunch of people sitting on it,

out of control..................

Eric Frei · 10th May 2010, 11:37 PM

They do it for religious reasons.
Here you go, have a look through all the pictures.

Anzenberger Agency - Onbashira Festival

Quote:

The Onbashira Festival by Stuart Isett

The basic purpose of the 1200 year old Onbashira Festival is rooted in Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan. In the Shinto way of thinking, the Gods, or kami, are living in the natural environment which surrounds human beings. The Onbashira Festival serves as a reminder of the importance of nature to human beings: large fir trees (symbolic "gods") are brought down from the mountains, carried into town and set to stand at the outskirts of the Suwa Grand Shrine. In this way, the people of the Suwa region never completely lose their contact with nature and the gods, and they renew this contact at least once every 6 years through Onbashira Festival.

jmcg.insight.gardens · 10th May 2010, 11:41 PM

Onbashira festival,

more like a bashon head with large amount of timber, wheres their PPE.................

jmcg.insight.gardens · 10th May 2010, 11:45 PM

they be seliously ...............

Jeff Darby · 10th May 2010, 11:55 PM

lol..they descend from a very long line of Crazy Japs..

then every six years do it all over again..I remember working on a house being built for some japanese people and the old grandfather was shyte scared of square timber, cause he thought evil spirits lived in square timber the builders had to round off all the exposed beams to stop him quacking in his pants..

sueann · 11th May 2010, 12:17 AM

That's as dumb as the Spanish that get chased by a heap of bulls down the street. Lots get killed doing that as well. like - duh!

jmcg.insight.gardens · 11th May 2010, 12:17 AM

maybe he was shito...oops spelling mistake.....I mean shinto.

That would make sense...............I suppose..............

10th May 2010, 10:31 PM	#2
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event

10th May 2010, 10:47 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event I know it's in the rules we shouldn't discuss religion but jeez .... it seems to claim many lives! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

10th May 2010, 10:50 PM	#4
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event Crazy japs.. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

10th May 2010, 11:20 PM	#5
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event Is that religion, I thought it was tonnes of wood sliding down a hill at speed with a whole bunch of people sitting on it, out of control..................

10th May 2010, 11:41 PM	#7
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event Onbashira festival, more like a bashon head with large amount of timber, wheres their PPE.................

10th May 2010, 11:45 PM	#8
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event they be seliously ...............

10th May 2010, 11:55 PM	#9
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event lol..they descend from a very long line of Crazy Japs.. then every six years do it all over again..I remember working on a house being built for some japanese people and the old grandfather was shyte scared of square timber, cause he thought evil spirits lived in square timber the builders had to round off all the exposed beams to stop him quacking in his pants.. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

11th May 2010, 12:17 AM	#10
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Nutter Japs\| 2 die in tree slide event That's as dumb as the Spanish that get chased by a heap of bulls down the street. Lots get killed doing that as well. like - duh!

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