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Torch-bearers participating in the Dosojin Fire Festival help light torches for others before they attack a tower known as the shaden.

Torch-bearers participating in the Dosojin Fire Festival help light torches for others before they attack a tower known as the shaden. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

Torch-bearers participating in the Dosojin Fire Festival help light torches for others before they attack a tower known as the shaden.

Torch-bearers participating in the Dosojin Fire Festival help light torches for others before they attack a tower known as the shaden. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

Torch-bearers participating in the Dosojin Fire Festival help light torches for others before they attack a tower known as the shaden.

Torch-bearers participating in the Dosojin Fire Festival help light torches for others before they attack a tower known as the shaden. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

Spectators narrowly avoid being struck with a lit torch during the one-hour battle at the Dosojin Fire Festival.

Spectators narrowly avoid being struck with a lit torch during the one-hour battle at the Dosojin Fire Festival. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

Participants in the Dosojin Fire Festival attack a tower, known as the shaden, with torches as a group of 25-year-old men defend it with pine branches.

Participants in the Dosojin Fire Festival attack a tower, known as the shaden, with torches as a group of 25-year-old men defend it with pine branches. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

A team of nearly 100 men consisting of 25 year olds and others aged 42-45 years -- all considered to be unlucky ages -- came together days before the festival to construct this tower, which is known as a shaden.

A team of nearly 100 men consisting of 25 year olds and others aged 42-45 years -- all considered to be unlucky ages -- came together days before the festival to construct this tower, which is known as a shaden. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

After an hour long battle, the shaden is set on fire as a sacrifice to the gods.

After an hour long battle, the shaden is set on fire as a sacrifice to the gods. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

After an hour long battle, the shaden is set on fire as a sacrifice to the gods.

After an hour long battle, the shaden is set on fire as a sacrifice to the gods. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)

NAGANO, Japan — The icy thud of booted footsteps buffalo through flurries of snow and ember as a group of torch-wielding men make their way toward a towering beech wood shrine.

These men intend to burn the shrine, known as the shaden, to the ground.

Dating back to 1863, the Dosojin Fire Festival, held in Nozawa Onsen, is one of the country’s most famous fire festivals.

A team of nearly 100 men consisting of 25 year olds and others aged between 42-45 — all considered to be unlucky ages — come together to construct the almost 20-meter tall structure days before the festival.

When the festivities begin, the 42-year-old men climb atop the shaden as the 25 year olds — armed with pine branches — gather below the structure.

Villagers that live in the surrounding areas charge the tower with torches and it is up to the 25 year olds to defend it and extinguish the flames with their pine branches.

After an hour of battle, the shrine is eventually set ablaze as a sacrifice to the gods in order to bring good luck and health to the first born sons of the villagers.

guzman.eric@stripes.com

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