I Visited Japan’s Most BRUTAL Festival #fukushima #fightclub
Japan’s Fight Club Festival 🔥
In the hot spring town of Iizaka Onsen in Fukushima city, famous for its historic hot springs and the local specialty UFO Gyoza, there’s a festival where giant wooden floats don’t just parade… they crash into each other on purpose.
This is the Iizaka Kenka Matsuri, one of Japan’s most intense traditional festivals with a history of more than 300 years.
Six neighborhood teams carry massive lantern-covered floats into the shrine grounds. Taiko drums thunder, crowds shout, and then…without slowing down. The floats charge straight into each other in a dramatic clash of wood, firelight, and pride.
They call it “Kenka”, a fight.
But behind the chaos is a deep local tradition, community pride, and a ritual that has been passed down for generations.
If you think Japanese festivals are always calm and quiet…
you’ve clearly never seen Japan’s Fight Club Festival.
Details of the festival:
https://fukushima.travel/destination/iizaka-kenka-matsuri-iizaka-fighting-festival/207
#japanfestival #fukushima #KenkaMatsuri #IizakaOnsen #UFOGyoza #JapaneseCulture #RyotarosJapan #fightclub #gyozas
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8 Comments
Did you know Fukushima has a festival where floats literally crash into each other? 😳🔥
This is the Iizaka Kenka Matsuri, one of Japan’s wildest festivals, held in the hot spring town of Iizaka Onsen. Six neighborhood teams carry huge lantern-covered floats into the shrine… and when they meet, they slam them head-on.
Would you dare to stand this close to the action? I didn't 😅
Japanese demolition derby. Love it.
Love it! Looks like fun
But… the first rule…
never knew there is a festival like this, thanks to your video, now I know. it's nice to see everybody join in the fun, even expats also join in but also feels sad for the destroyed floats that's nicely built and decorated
Keep it up man. Love your content and positivity. Much love
Rule #1 about Iizaka Kenka Matsuri: Do not talk about Iizaka Kenka Matsuri. Rule #2: DO NOT talk about Iizaka Kenka Matsuri. Rule #3: If someone yells "yamero," goes limp, or taps out, the fight is over. Rule #4: Only two floats to a fight. Rule #5: One fight at a time. Rule #6: No nudity, no barefoot. Rule #7: Fights go on as long as they have to. And rule #8: If it is your first night, you have to fight.
Fun fact: The most dangerous festival in the world is the Onbashira Festival, which is held every 6 years in Nagano. It involves riding a 10-ton, 17-meter-long fir tree log down steep hillsides. Injuries and deaths are common, with fatalities occurring from being crushed under the logs, drowning during river crossings, or falling from the trees when they are erected at shrines.
With how online everyone is nowadays, it's more important than ever to keep these kinds of events alive for people to meet up in-person.