In Japan, there are a lot of things to experience. Bustling cities, gorgeous countryside, or nine thousand men in nothing but loincloths fighting for blessings. This particular festival ranks among the three most peculiar festivals in all of Japan.
Summary
In Japan, there are a lot of things to experience. Bustling cities, gorgeous countryside, or nine thousand men in nothing but loincloths fighting for blessings. This particular festival ranks among the three most peculiar festivals in all of Japan.
Facebook で見るHadaka Matsuri, or The Naked Man festival
One of the must fascinating festivals in Japan is the Hadaka Matsuri, which translates to the naked man festival. On the third Saturday in February of each year men come from all parts of the country, and even some foreigners make the time to attend this unique festival. It is only men that are allowed to participate in the festival, and this is due to religious reasons. Where some traditions might loosen up on this kind of things over time, this festival still follows the rules that were set over 500 years ago. However, women are allowed to be there as spectators. Both young and old men come to take part in the festival. From high schoolers to long since retired men, they can all participate. Okayama prefecture is the home of the festival.
What happens at the Hadaka Festival
Although it is called the naked festival, people are not entirely naked. When the participants get to the festival, they pay roughly three thousand yen, and everyone receives a loincloth and a pair of socks. Not regular socks, two-toed traditional Japanese socks. The price for spectators is one thousand yen. After getting ready, the participants make their way outside. As the participants wait for the festival to start fully they stand togethere singing "wasshoi wasshoi". The crowd sees this gesture of comradery and togethereness before the main event takes place. It is at this point it gets rather intense. In the temple, a priest throws down bundles of sticks known as the Shingi. Shingi is blessed sticks that are said to bring a year of good luck. At this point, the object of the festival is to obtain a bundle. Upon obtain said sticks the purpose of the game changes, and now the goal is to keep it away from competitors hands and put it in a box of rice, lose the stick and you lose your prize. It is after you obtain your bundle that you become fair game to the other attendees, and making your way to the box of rice might be more hazardous than it initially seemed. To put it mildly, it becomes an outrageous melee.
Saidaiji, a temple of time-honored traditions - and som curious ones
This festival has a very long history. And the staging ground, the Saidaiji Kaiyo is a sacred place with more than five hundred years of history tied to it. The temple has not always been in Okayama prefecture, in fact, it started in Yamaguchi prefecture. Before it was called Saidaiji, it was known as the Saiji temple, but this was later changed to its current name. The Saidaiji temple is ancient, it was built 1,200 years ago. There are records dating back to the year 1299 which states that the temple was one of the largest in the area. Hadaka matsuri was inherited from the Muromachi shogunate, and took place for the 509th time this year in 2018.
Stay safe and follow the rules
If you want to take part in Okayama's naked festival, please keep in mind that you might end up with some bruises and sore muscle. However, whether you og as a participant or a spectator, it will undoubtedly be a memory that will last a lifetime. The official Saidaiji temple website, it says that participating in the festival must be done at your own risk. The website of the Okayama Chamber of Commerce and industry talks about the rules and safety risks involved in this. On this site they state that violence and drinking while participating in the festival is prohibited due to the danger this creates for yourself and other participants in the festival. Wearing accessories such as glasses, necklaces or ear piercings are also banned. Every year roughly nine thousand people come to participate in the celebration. Whether you are there as a participant or as an observer, it is essential to follow the rules of the festival, for your own safety, and the safety of others.
How to visit?
All of this takes place in Okayama prefecture. It is situated close to Hiroshima and getting there is not particularly complicated. By aeroplane, the trip takes 80 minutes. The shinkansen leaves from platform 18 at Tokyo station and arrives at platform 22 at Okayama Station. It takes three hours and 20 minutes to go there from Tokyo. Upon arrival at the Okayama station, the next move is to make one’s way towards the Saidaji temple station, which takes about 18 minutes. From there the next step is to go towards the Yoshii river. The SaidaijiTemple is right next to the Yoshi river. It is south of the train station. By car it takes 5 minutes from the station, by foot it takes roughly 16 minutes. It might take a little bit longer on the day of the festival. ### Reference Listhttp://www.saidaiji.jp/eyou/
http://www.okayama-cci.or.jp/activation/saidaijieyo/join.html
https://www.okayama-japan.jp/en/spot/797
http://www.okayama-cci.or.jp/activation/saidaijieyo_en.html
