Local News

The highlight of the Imari Tontenton Festival, held every year in October, was the clash of groups trying to overturn each other’s 600-kilogram mikoshi, or portable floats. In 2006, one high school boy was killed and another received a spinal cord injury during the festival, which resulted in the cancellation of the festival in 2007. It was held this year, but without the mikoshi clash. Now a local group has announced they will hold a street-corner petition drive and other activities to resume the fight. They say they want to do everything they can to preserve the tradition.