A sitting deputy mayor in a Japanese regional city has died after being crushed by a large festival float during a local event.

According to Jiji Press and other media outlets on October 18, Nabae Akihiro, the deputy mayor of Saijo, Ehime Prefecture on the western island of Shikoku, was pinned under a festival float known as a daikodai while participating in the Saijo Festival at around 5:45 p.m. on October 17.

He was rushed to the hospital immediately but was pronounced dead.

A daikodai is a large festival float that participants shoulder and pull in processions, heavier than a mikoshi and equipped with wheels.

They are known to be used primarily in western regions of Japan, including Kansai and Shikoku.

The daikodai involved in the accident in Saijo is reported to be approximately 5.3 meters tall and weighs between 2 and 3 tons.

Deputy Mayor Nabae, who assumed office in July, was participating in the festival as one of the float bearers when the accident occurred.

There were no other injuries, and the Saijo police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.

Dating back to the Edo period, the Saijo Festival is a major traditional event featuring around 100 festival floats, including mikoshi and daikodai.

(Photo: Yonhap News)