Where’s the fire? . . . nowhere
Competitions for firefighters are common in Japan–perhaps more so (?) in rural areas like the Kiso Valley where I live. Teams of firefighters run and scream and make very much like army soldiers, then pump some water, knock down a sign, and roll up their hose. It’s all quite impressive, in a rather boring sort of way.
My village, Otaki, has no professional firefighters, only volunteers. But, I’ll be damned if these guys aren’t dedicated. They practiced every night for about a month to prepare for the competition. The goal, apparently, is to place 2nd. Placing 1st means securing a spot in the prefectural competition . . . which means securing another month of practicing.
This year my own wee village of Otaki placed 1st in the Kiso Valley competition–even though they had done what they felt was a 2nd place performance. Anyway, congratulations . . . I guess. Have fun practicing and good luck at the prefecture competition.
Contributor Bio: I am a doctoral student of environmental anthropology currently living and conducting research in a mountain village in Nagano. In my research I explore modernity as it is expressed in a rural mountain community. Specifically I look at national management structures, as well as social discourses, related to forests and probe the impacts these have on local human communities. I have lived and worked in Japan for 5 years. My interests also include Buddhism, literature, music, and mountaineering. Read more at my personal blog: In the Pines.
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