Weekly News Digest
産経オンライン英会話 ニュースディスカッション教材
An enchanting festival unfolded on January 27 at Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost tip of Honshu in Kushimoto town, Wakayama Prefecture. Approximately 100,000 square meters of Boro no Shiba ("watchtower lawn") overlooking the Pacific Ocean were set ablaze. As dusk fell, members of the local Kushimoto Koza High School archery club initiated the event by launching flaming arrows into the air toward the field.
The festival, promoted by the local tourism association as Honshu's Southernmost Fire Festival, serves a dual purpose. Apart from the visually stunning display, it aims to eliminate pests by burning the old grass. This stimulates the growth of new shoots.
Visitors also enjoyed purchasing local products and watching dance performances. The festival served shorasan-nabe, a regional hot pot with minced fish balls, to the approximately 800 people in attendance.
When the arrows descended onto the grass, the flames danced and soared, engulfing the vast lawn. Kazuya Nagai, an office worker from Minabe, Wakayama Prefecture, attended the event with his wife. Expressing his awe, he said, "I was amazed by the fantastic, magnificent sight. My wife was also deeply moved. We want to see it again next year."
本州最南端の和歌山県串本町の潮岬で１月２７日、太平洋を望む約１０万平方メートルの「望楼の芝」を焼く火祭りが行われた。夕闇が迫る中、地元の県立串本古座高の弓道部員が点火用の火矢を芝生広場に放ってスタート。
火矢が芝生に落ちると炎がゆらゆらと上がり、広大な芝生が炎に包まれた。同県みなべ町から夫婦で訪れた会社員長井和也さん（４８）は「幻想的で壮大な光景に驚いた。妻も感動していた。来年も見たい」と話した。
古い芝生を焼いて害虫を駆除し、新芽の生育を促す手入れを地元の観光協会が「本州最南端の火祭り」としてイベント化。地元の物産販売や踊りが披露され、名産のトビウオを使った「しょらさん鍋」と呼ばれるつみれ汁８００人分がふるまわれた。