Dezome-shiki, the New Year's Parade of Fire Brigades

The Japanese New Year's Parade of Fire Brigades (Dezome-shiki) is a spectacular event, taking place in several cities during the first week of the New Year. It is a very popular show, the Japanese firemen are well-loved and respected ever since the firefighter units were established in Edo Period and there are even shrines dedicated to firemen.

And since tradition is highly valued in Japan, the main attraction of the Dezome-shiki is the Edo Period firemen demonstration: very impressive stunts, performed by highly trained teams dedicated to preserving the skills of the Edo firefighters. In that time, when arriving at the scene of the fire, the firemen were raising light bamboo ladders and one of them was climbing to the top to evaluate the wind and to predict how the fire will develop.