Literally meaning “Torii-shaped,” the Toriigata fire is said to be rooted in the gates of the Atago Shrine, the Shinto worship site of Mt. Atago. As the mountain is known to represent a fire god, many Shinto rites that use fire are still practiced there.

You might be asking yourself, “How come it’s shaped like the gate of a Shinto temple, when the sendoff fire is a Buddhist rite?” In truth, it’s not too strange, considering that until quite recently, Buddhism and Shintoism were amalgamated religions in Japan. Moreover, the Gozan no Okuribi rite is carried out by temples of different sects working together.

The ceremonial bonfires for each mountain have their own preservation societies, which are in turn managed by a single federation. Naturally, the fire departments are also indispensable. Many people watch over the bonfires in places unseen by the public. We encourage you to learn about the Gozan no Okuribi’s background work after you view the rite.