This fire festival recreates the legend of "The Nio Statue and Strongman Kotaro," in which Kotaro, who rescued and enshrined a Nio statue that had drifted upriver after a great fire, was granted superhuman strength. Leading the procession is a float with lanterns, followed by two floats—Red Nio and Blue Nio—each carrying eight people dressed as the "Eight Divine Generals" and accompanied by the powerful sounds of the Iwadate Taiko drums. The sight of these floats parading through the city is a must-see.