The Oniyo Festival is a Shinto ritual to expel evil spirits and epidemics. It is one of the three largest fire festivals in Japan along with Kurama Fire Festival in Kyoto and Nachi Fire Festival in Wakayama.
The festival has its origin in a 1600-year-old legend. It is now held every year on January 7 at the Daizenji Tamatare-gu Shrine.
A young boy is initiated by his father as he joins his first celebration of the Oniyo fire festival at the Daizenji Tamatare-gu Shrine. Boys join men in the preliminary parade. Dressed in loincloths, they will carry the small torches around the temple.

ID # jpnoniyo11
Copyright 2002 - Jean-Philippe Soule
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