Yeah, the sense of community in Japan is very strong. But, along with the good of that there is a lot of bad. Lots of stigmas and such so support from people around you comes with a price.

Safety? With all those torches? lol. They're was always a bucket of water within arms reach no matter where you were. And everyone is so used to the danger of these festivals they just unconsciously make sure not to do something too stupid, hehe. The one where hundreds of people carry a thousand point portable shrine and run it down the street and take sharp corners...I don't think anyones died from that recently, lol.