S/ Suzuki Jun, YTV Camera Reporter / It's 6 a.m. This is a shrine ritual, the lucky man race. The race is on! Someone fell. This is very, very intense. Watch out!

The annual lucky man race took place at Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture on January 10.

About 5,000 contestants took part in the 230-meter battle to be the first to reach the shrine's main hall.

They included 108 people chosen by lottery to be the first to enter the gate.

The three top finishers are designated as lucky men for the year.

This year's winner was a second-year high school student from nearby Takarazuka.

S/ Ogishi Fumiya, Race winner / I want to engage in things like fundraising activities for those affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Ogishi Fumiya is a 17-year-old first-time challenger who belongs to his school's track and field club.