The Oniyo festival is held every year on January 7 at the Daizenji Tamatare-gu Shrine in Fukuoka, Japan.

The highlight is when the first team sets fire to the first of six giant torches.

The leader coordinates all efforts to lift the mammoth shafts using long oak poles.

The men keep flying pieces of ash torches under control with branches and sticks.

Men carry the one-ton torches seven times around the temple.

Men jump with their arms raised in the air yelling triumphantly: Banzai, Banzai!

A young boy is initiated by his father as he joins his first celebration of the Oniyo fire.