On this National Foundation Day, the “Agon no Hoshi Matsuri” was held within the precincts of the main hall of the Agon Shu in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City. Amidst the resounding echoes of the conch shell horns played by Yamabushi (mountain ascetics), and the resonating chants and drum beats, approximately 600 practitioners clad in the attire of Yamabushi threw around 30 million Goma sticks into two Goma platforms. Instantly, towering columns of flames rose. At times resembling the figure of Dainichi Nyorai, and at other times taking on the appearance of Deva kings or demons, the flames assumed various expressions. The “Agon no Hoshi Matsuri” is the largest annual event in the Agon Shu and is renowned in the Kansai region as a prominent fire festival. The now 50,000 visitors pray for good health, prosperity in business, and other blessings while witnessing the towering flames representing the culmination of their year. Founded by Seiyu Kiriyama in 1978 (Showa 53), Agon Shu is one of the few new religious movements based on Hinayana Buddhism in Japan. The estimated number of believers is around 30,000 to 40,000, with an additional 200,000 estimated as members.

建国記念日の今日、「阿含（あごん）の星まつり」が京都市山科区の阿含宗総本殿境内で開催されました。山伏のホラガイの音が轟き、読経や太鼓が響く中、約600人の山伏姿の修行者らが2つの護摩壇に約3000万本の護摩木を投げ入れると、たちまち大きな火柱が立ち上がります。時には大日如来の様に、時には仁王や鬼の様に、炎は様々な表情を型作ります。「阿含の星まつり」は阿含宗最大の年中行事で、関西では有名な火祭りとして知られています。今や５万人の参拝者は立ち上がる火柱に今年1年の無病息災や商売繁盛などを祈ります。阿含宗は、桐山靖雄（きりやませいゆう）により1978年（昭和53年）に創設された、日本では数少ない小乗仏教系お前の新宗教です。信者数は３〜４万人と推定されていますが、その他会員が20万人はいるだろうと言われています。