Hadaka Matsuri - "Naked Man Festival"

When most people think of Japan, they think of peaceful shrines, respectful people, Tokyo, electronics, and sushi. But did you know that there is an annual naked man festival here? Yep, Hadaka Matsuri, or "Naked Man Festival," is held nationwide.

photo from here

Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri is the closest one to Nagoya, held on Friday, February 22. Darn, we fly to Michigan this day, so sadly we'll miss it. ;) 

The festival dates back to 767 when the local governor initiated the festival in an attempt to ward off a plague epidemic sweeping the country. Apparently 10,000 nearly naked men will participate in this festival, attracting about 300,000 spectators! The main event starts when a chosen male volunteer, designed at the "lucky" Shin-Otoko,  re-enacts an old ritual of being chased around a shrine naked, caught, beaten, and then driven out of town taking all bad luck with him. There are numerous events leading up to the climax, but basically for about an hour after he appears, he becomes the center of attention as thousands of now intoxicated naked men try to touch him to get rid of misfortune for the new year.

photo from here

I read that it's brutal and barbaric, yet traditional, and of course just plain weird to a foreigner. Interested in reading more? You can here, here, and here.

Just thought you should know what we're missing out on to come home. ;) 

またね Nagoya!