Three men have died in separate accidents involving festival floats in Japan over the past two weeks, raising concerns about the safety of traditional celebrations across the country.

On Saturday, Akihiro Nabae, the 62-year-old deputy mayor of Saijo in western Japan, was fatally injured after being trapped beneath a large float during a local festival. Authorities in Saijo reported that Nabae was participating in the event alongside other carriers when the incident occurred. He was rushed to a hospital but was later pronounced dead. No other injuries were reported in connection with this accident.

This latest fatality comes less than two weeks after two men died in similar incidents at Danjiri festivals in southern Osaka prefecture and a nearby town. A 51-year-old man was crushed under a wooden float while riding it, and on the same day, a 48-year-old man was killed in a comparable accident at another Danjiri event. Police reported that 16 others were injured in the incidents. The Danjiri floats, which can weigh up to four tonnes, are pulled at high speed through tight turns known as yarimawashi—a central and risky feature of these harvest festivals.

Saijo police indicated it remains unclear whether Nabae lost his balance or if the float toppled onto him. At the time of the accident, 11 floats weighing up to three tonnes each were lined up side by side. The Saijo festival, held annually since the Edo period (1603-1868), involves more than 100 floats and is performed to honor Shinto deities and give thanks for grain crops.

The city’s mayor, Mitsuyoshi Ochi, expressed deep shock and sorrow over the deputy mayor’s death, noting the tragedy occurred just as they were preparing to collaborate on the city's new administration. “I still can’t believe it. I offer my heartfelt condolences,” he said.

In February, two fatalities occurred at the “naked man festival” in Okayama, another traditional event marked by large crowds. Around 10,000 men, wearing only loincloths, gather at a temple and compete to catch sacred wooden sticks tossed by the head priest, two of whom are declared “lucky men” for the year. The deaths followed a crush of participants.

These incidents have prompted renewed scrutiny of safety measures at Japanese festivals, which often involve large floats and vigorous crowd participation in celebrations that date back centuries. Authorities continue to investigate the recent accidents as organizers and local governments consider ways to prevent future tragedies.