Japan's winter fire festival – in pictures

The Nozawa (Dosojin) Fire Festival is one of three major annual festivals of its kind in Japan. It takes place in Nozawa Onsen, a hot spring village and ski resort some four hours’ drive from Tokyo in Nagano prefecture. A shrine pavillion, constructed specifically for the festival from local sacred trees, burns fiercely at the culmination of the festivities
Photograph: David Levene

The display follows a protracted 'battle', whereby villagers of yakudoshi 'unlucky' ages of 42 and 25 try to protect the shrine as other villagers of all ages, young and old, attack the wooden structure with flaming torches. Photograph: David Levene

The violent and dangerous display continues for a number of hours, while the 42-year-old villagers sit atop the shrine singing and chanting Photograph: David Levene

Meanwhile the 25-year-olds try to defend the shrine from the relentless series of attacks on the ground Photograph: David Levene

To make matters worse, all those in charge of protecting the shrine (as well as many of the attackers) are totally drunk, having ceremoniously consumed copious amounts of sake before the start of the 'battle' Photograph: David Levene

Revellers of all ages join in the festivities (except for the sake part) despite the flying sparks Photograph: David Levene

Eventually those sitting on top of the shrine, scramble down to safety before the entire structure goes up in flames Photograph: David Levene

The festival takes place in the depths of winter in January, when the region is thickly covered in snow
Photograph: David Levene

One man of 'unlucky' age prepares for battle Photograph: David Levene

More sake please! Photograph: David Levene

The next Dosojin Fire Festival takes place on 15 January 2013 in Nozawa Onsen, Japan Photograph: David Levene