Stone-lifting event held at shrine in rain-hit Sakai City

People in a town in Fukui Prefecture, which was hit hard by flooding this summer, have competed in a community event to see who can lift the heaviest stones or sandbags.

The event was held on Wednesday at the Hachiman Shrine, which is situated in the district of Maruoka in the city of Sakai. The annual event had a special meaning this year. One aim was to cheer up local residents in the wake of the flooding disaster, which was caused by record downpours in late August.

About 70 people,including children and adults, competed in groups according to their age and gender.

The spectators cheered and applauded as some of the participants took up the challenge of lifting a roughly 100-kilogram stone up to their shoulders.

A man in his 30s, who succeeded in lifting a 60-kilogram sandbag, said that he would train extra hard so that he would be able to lift the heavy stones next year.

A man in his 40s, who tried and failed to lift a 70-kilogram stone, said that it felt extremely heavy. He said that he would build up his muscles so that he would be able to make it next time around.