The "Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Rengokai," the union of preservation associations of Kyoto's traditional O-bon bonfire event, announced on June 28 that this summer's bonfires on the evening of August 16 will be fully lit for the first time in three years. For the last two years, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, each mountain limited its number of ignition points to between one and six to prevent crowding of citizens and tourists and to ensure the safety of the event staff.