出初式 – Dezomeshiki in Moji (Edo Period Acrobatic Firefighters)

This is footage from a Dezomeshiki in Mojiko, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka on a cold winter day. Hikeshi (Edo Period firefighters) in happi coats perform acrobatic stunts on top of bamboo ladders. The ladder stunts were the main event of Japanese New Year celebrations. The demonstrations, called dezome-shiki, were intended to warn people of the dangers of fire and to demonstrate the agility and courage of the firefighters. The old way to fight fires was to tear down surrounding houses, so ladders were needed to climb on roofs. Because of the climbing involved, scaffolding workers served as firemen. They had incredible strength and stamina because of having to build scaffolds on a daily basis. The demonstration was preceded with the firemen praying at a shrine for their safety during the coming year. Most of the houses in this era were only two stories high so anything taller would give you a view over the city. If one got lost en route to the fire, the hikeshi would prop up the ladder, climb to the top, and find his way there.