Men Dedicated to Reconstruction

• Prize
  Bronze in People/Event
• Photographer
  Megumi Murakami
• Technical Info
  Canon Eos R6 Markii + Rf24-70mm F2.8 L Is Usm F:2.8, Ss:1/640, Iso:6400, Focal Length:70mm
• Photo Date
  05/JUL/2025

The Abare Festival is a traditional celebration passed down for 350 years in Japan's Noto region. The massive earthquake that struck this area on New Year's Day 2024. Even now, as recovery efforts continue, the people's strong conviction is that the festival “must be held.” I too wanted to convey something through my photographs, so I took these shots. Amidst fiercely burning 7-meter torches being smashed, sending sparks flying everywhere, men dive into the river and rampage wildly. It's an exciting festival where legend says the more wildly they rampage, the more the deity rejoices.