During the final years of World War II, as Japan's military situation became more desperate, the government began altering its original conscription laws, so that in 1943, all male students over the age of 20 became subject to the draft, whereas they had formerly been exempted. By 1944, men under 20—some as young as 15—were being pressured to serve in the military. Due to the lack of able-bodied adult men, the Onbashira Festival of 1944 (Shōwa 19) was performed mainly by women (who formerly did not take part in the proceedings) and by older men who were not pressed into military service. During the festival, then mayor of Shimosuwa, Tokichi Takagi (高木十吉), died from an accident during the "Yamadashi". It has since become customary to pray for safety during the proceedings before a monument dedicated to his memory.