What's the hottest tourist attraction in Japan this time of year? It's not Mt. Fuji – it's the log riders! In Suwa City, north of Tokyo, people flocked Friday for “Onbashira Matsuri” or “holly pillar festival”. The most popular event is the logride which involves five to six men tumbling over a mountain top on a fir log. Organizers said the festival goes back to over 1,200 years, and is deeply rooted in Japan's indigenous religion Shinto. Its beginnings, shrouded in mystery, are believed to be a ritualized rebuilding of the city's main shrine. Shinto shrines are regularly torn down and rebuilt to symbolize rebirth and renewal. The person who manages to stay on top of the log for the entire trip down the hill is called “Hana-nori,” or splendid rider, and hailed by other participants. Locals say the honour and talismanic protection offered by being Hana-nori is enough to last a life time. added by: ctv
