Nozawaonsen Dosojin Fire Festival

NOZAWAONSEN, JAPAN - JANUARY 14: A man prepares rope for use in the construction of the shrine during preparations for the Nozawaonsen Dosojin Fire Festival, on January 14, 2018 in Nozawaonsen, Japan. The Nozawaonsen Dosojin Fire Festival is staged by village men of 'yakudoshi' or 'unlucky' ages of 42 and 25 to celebrate the birth of a family's first child, to chase away evil spirits, and to pray for a happy marriage. It takes the form of fire battle between the men who build the shrine, who try to protect it, and the other villagers who try to set it aflame by throwing torches at the shrine. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)