Traditional Acrobatics on Fire-Ladders in Tokyo (浅草寺のはしご乗り)

On May 25, the Edo civilian firefighters' association hosted a demonstration of acrobatics on fire-ladders at the Sensouji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. The festival commemorates firefighters who were killed on duty. The acrobatics are more than just pageantry when you consider the limited means and equipment with which Edo period (1603-1868) firemen bravely protected the city from "The Flowers of Edo" which refers to the many fires that would break out in the city. These "Flowers" were a deadly but common part of life in a city built mostly of wood.

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Travel & Events

Tags:

• Edo
• Civilian
• Firefighters
• acrobat
• fire-ladder
• Sensouji
• Temple
• Asakusa
• japan
• Tokyo
• May
• 25
• Yayoimatsuri
• 浅草寺
• 浅草
• 火消し
• 町火消し
• 弥生祭