Inheritance of Tradition

• Prize
  Silver in People/Culture
• Photographer
  Yusuke Okamoto
• Photo Date
  2025.7.14

The Nachi Fire Festival, a 1700-year-old Shinto ritual held annually on July 14th, is celebrated with massive torches weighing around 50kg. This photograph captures the expressions and physical strain of participants carrying the flames up steep stone steps. The image preserves the flickering texture of fire while balancing the tonal range and shadows of white ceremonial robes. The composition guides the eye toward faces and torches, evoking both the festival’s deep history and the physical intensity of heat, weight, and sacred endurance.