I was able to witness the 2025 Iizaka Fighting Festival and it was something unforgettable. Saturday was definitely the highlight of the entire festival specifically that night, the rain happened to let up just before the clashing of the floats creating an even more moody atmosphere. The beating of the drums was felt in my chest and grabbed my attention, the chanting was loud and proud, tension before the first 'fight' could have been cut with a knife. The build-up to the first charge with both floats standing across the courtyard from each other with the shrine standing tall and looming in the background was breath taking. Then the fights began. The 'fights' consisted of two floats counting down before charging at each other, putting as much strength as they could to push the other float above their own creating a tent shape with the two floats. The cheering of the crowd only seemed to grow and I was swept away with them and the energy created from the floats fighting. Overall the festival was exhilarating and is definitely worth the ride into a little Onsen town in Fukushima.