Saidaiji Hadaka Matsuri (Saidaiji Naked Festival)

Hey everyone.  It's been way too long.  Sorry for the same excuses, but Jan was crazy with job search, studying, work and finally a much needed vacation (more on this to come under separate post).


Anyway, on to the business at hand, one of Japan's many naked festivals.

Welcome to the annual Saidaiji Hadaka Matsuri in Okayama, Japan.  This annual festival pits over nine thousand men in fundoshi (traditional Japanese loincloth) against each other for the honor of being named "the luck man".

LEGEND 
(background info from: http://www.fest300.com/festivals/hadaka-matsuri) 
According to Shinto legend, Hadaka Matsuri began in Nara in 767 AD when bad luck and disease were widespread in the area.  Believing that nakedness could absorb all of the evil taking place, one man from each village was chosen to be the shin-otoko (godly man).  That man was shaven and paraded through the town where villagers touched him to release their misfortune.  Unfortunately for the shin-otoko, now laden with all the bad luck of the village, this meant banishment from the village for life.

Since the original Hadaka Matsuri, the tradition has spread all over Japan and beliefs have changed.  In today's festivals, the shin-otoko volunteer and fight to be named "the lucky man" which is gained by catching one of the shingi or sacred lucky sticks thrown by the Shinto Priests.  Whoever is lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to get the shingi has to fight off the crowd and get the stick into a barrel of rice.  The lucky man who achieves this will walk away with immense luck, about $4,000 and bragging rights.  Today, this luck makes the shin-otoko desirable instead of bringing life long banishment.

2014 FESTIVAL
We missed the daytime events, but apparently it's an all day celebration for the whole family.  Four friends and I showed up around 8pm, took about 30mins to put on our fundoshi and tabi (traditional Japanese socks with a split toe) before heading into the shrine.

(front, left to right) Connor and Joe
(back, left to right) me, AJ, Armando

With the temp around 2C / 36F, we made our way arm-in-arm into the shrine chanting "Wasshoi, wasshoi!" (very roughly "heave-ho!").  First, it was into the freezing cold water (I think to cleanse yourself), then parade around the outside of the shrine and finally choose anywhere to try and get into the mob.

With the Priest throwing the sticks around 10pm, we had about an hour to fight into position.  AJ led the way, and we tried to stick together.  The force of such a swaying crowd can not be imagined.  As we fought our way in, others got in between, and I lost the group.  After spending a few minutes just trying to breathe, let alone find the others, I bailed.

I spent the next 30mins breathing comfortably but freezing my toes off outside the main group.  Promptly at 10pm the lights went out, shingi were thrown and the crowd inside the temple slowly broke  into smaller groups to fight over the lucky sticks sometimes realizing that they were fighting over nothing.

It was crazy.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE 
Despite being disappointed that I bailed so early, it was awesome!  I went for three reasons: (1) cultural experience, (2) have fun with friends and (3) as someone with a fear of very tight quarters, to face a fear.

All three accomplished :)