 Most viewed - Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri 国府宮はだか祭 |
Konomiya Hadaka Festival, Inazawa, Aichi Pref.557 views
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A group of men carry a red and white pole in front of Inazawa Station, on their way to Konomiya Shrine.535 views
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509 views
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Gaijin girls had an easy time attracting men who happily tried to converse in English and bestow cloth strips.457 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station408 views
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394 views
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Konomiya Shrine holds the Hadaka (Naked or Nude) Festival in early March, or Jan. 13 of the lunar calendar. Men in loincloths parade around the streets until they reach the shrine.388 viewsA Sacred Man (Shin-otoko) also appears in the shrine and the men try to touch him before he slips into the shrine's window. The festival's real name is Naoi-shinji 儺追神事 which is a rite to dispel bad luck. Photo: Nearest station is JR Inazawa Station on the Tokaido Line. 稲沢駅
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It was a pretty cold day, and these men were drinking all afternoon.376 views
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369 views
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Sometimes a man from the window jumps into the crowd to grab and take in the Sacred Man.363 views
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They zig-zag along the street, and they are filled with sake.349 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko 神男：加藤 典彦347 views
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Maybe this is the Sacred Man being pulled into the window.333 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko, from Ichinomiya 神男：加藤 典彦325 views
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Gaijin talking to gaijin. Sounded Australian. English teacher at junior high.323 views
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312 views
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306 views
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294 views
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291 views
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They get pretty crazy, getting more water.284 views
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Cloth strips (100 yen each) to ward off bad luck 厄除けの ”なおいぎれ” 初穂料 １本 １００円281 views
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Every once in a while, they raise their pole.280 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station280 views
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The Sacred Man struggles to reach the small window.274 views
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270 views
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Numerous groups of near-naked men (no women) proceed to the shrine all afternoon.266 views
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Closeup of giant mochi. Solid as a rock.266 views
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On the straight road from Inazawa Station to Konomiya Shrine.263 views
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When the Sacred Man enters the window, everyone cheers.261 views
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Tree surrounded with cloth strips called Naoi-gire255 views
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Some of the men tear off strips from their handband and give them to bystanders.254 views
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Giant kagami mochi, rice cake in the Haiden Hall. Over 2 meters tall and over 2 meters diameter. Weighs 4 tons. They are to be cut into small pieces (with a chain saw) and given away the next morning.249 views
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The men in the window give directions to the Sacred Man.243 views
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The festival is over.243 views
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240 views
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All the men want to touch the Sacred Man, believing that it will dispel bad luck.239 views
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Konomiya Shrine torii and the long path to the shrine is lined with a large crowd.236 views
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The window where the Sacred Man entered.236 views
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This is the small window the Sacred Man has to enter. It has a sprinkler system.233 views
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Zig-zag to the shrine232 views
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The inner path to the shrine gets more crowded.226 views
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They are waiting for the Sacred Man.218 views
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More giant mochi offered to the shrine. Notice the forklift. 大鏡餅奉納218 views
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All the men look in the direction of the Sacred Man.217 views
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Giant mochi inside the Haiden hall. 大鏡餅奉納217 views
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Haiden Hall where the men offer their long poles. 拝殿211 views
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The men are shouting "Kami-o Kami-o" (another way of pronouncing the kanji for Kami-otoko). 神男211 views
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209 views
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Men with buckets come for a refill.205 views
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All the men look in the direction of the Sacred Man, but few can actually see him or touch him for good luck.201 views
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198 views
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After passing through this gate, the men enter the shrine grounds. Romon Gate 楼門194 views
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192 views
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Another torii191 views
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Inside the shrine hall.190 views
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186 views
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Men start to pour into the shrine.183 views
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181 views
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Now they start to splash cold water on the men, and some of the spectators.181 views
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Romon Gate 楼門180 views
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176 views
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Banzai cheers when an extra-large pole was brought to the shrine.175 views
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Water supply172 views
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Stacking up the poles.171 views
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Now empty, this path will soon be filled with thousands of men in loincloths.170 views
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Haiden Hall 拝殿170 views
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Splashing water170 views
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163 views
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