Flames of Devotion

• Photographer
  Shoya Kato
• Technical Info
  Canon Eos Rp/ Rf24-105mm F4-7.1 Is Stm
• Photo Date
  24 July 2025

Every summer in Biei, Hokkaido, men dressed in white carry enormous torches of blazing fire through the night. The ritual, known as Nachi Biei Fire Festival, was born from the ancient Kumano Nachi Fire Festival in Wakayama and has been celebrated here since 1989. The sacred flames are believed to honor both fire and water, pray for the prosperity of the town, and calm the mighty Tokachi volcano. As the torches roar and sparks scatter into the darkness, the scene awakens something primal within us—a reminder of humanity’s timeless connection to nature and the divine. This image captures the raw