The 32nd Sugao Stone Buddha Fire Festival ❚ Held in on August 24, 2025 The "Sugao Stone Buddha Fire Festival" will be Held in at Sugao Stone Buddha Square in Mie Town, Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture. Named after a local legend, the "Crook Imitation Contest" is a fun Events where participants wear handmade costumes (of course, you don't need to prepare a costume) and perform unique performances while performing to imitate the croaks of the crooks. There are many smiles at the venue. Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025 【Place】Sugao Stone Buddha Square (Mie, Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture) Car parking is in front of Sugao Elementary School Pool. A free shuttle Taxi will be available to the venue. 【Events】 15:00 Shinto ritual and Buddhist affairs 15:10 Oni Pick Up 15:20 Opening Ceremony, Mochi throwing 15:30 Hoyu Kai Drum 16:00 Crook imitation contest 17:00 Torch throwing 18:00 Matsuo Kagura 20:00 End ▶ We are looking for participants for the Eagle Bird Imitation Contest 【Participation fee】Free (there is a participation prize) Application deadline: Thursday, August 21, 2025 [Prize money] 1st place 30,000 yen, 2nd place 20,000 yen, 3rd place 10,000 yen 【Supplementary Prize】Roadside Station Mie Gift Certificate To apply, please contact the Sugao Regional Promotion Council 【Organizer / Contact】 Sugao Regional Promotion Council ❚ What is the Sugao Stone Buddha Fire Festival? Held in by local people to revitalize the region and let people know about Sugao Magaibutsu. The "Croaching Contest" is named after a local legend. Legend has it that a demon who lived in this area and misbehaved said, "Give me the daughter of the Village as my wife!", and when the troubled Village chief consulted the monk, the monk told the demon, "If you carve five stone Buddhas on the Quay in one night, I will give you my daughter as my wife, but if you can't, leave the village." It is said that when the worried Village went to see it in the middle of the night, the demon carved the fifth one, so when the Village mimic the croaking master of the chicken imitated it, the demon mistakenly thought that morning had come and ran away. ■■■Access to the center of Bungo-Ono City■■■ About 3 hours by car from JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture About 2 hours by Car from JR Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto Prefecture About 1 hour and 20 minutes by Car from JR Beppu Station in Oita Prefecture About 1 hour and 20 minutes by Car from JR Yufuin Station in Oita Prefecture ■■■■■■■■■■■■ Kyushu, Oita Prefecture Bungo-Ono City Sightseeing and recommended Spots ■■■■■■■■■■■■ https://sato-no-tabi.jp/news/20250813event-mie/