Image search results - "kumano" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "kumano"

Torii gate to Kumano-sha Shrine.

Kumano-sha Shrine, the starting point of the procession or "Penis Parade." 熊野社

Inside Kumano Shrine. Notice the wooden penises on lower left.

Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto who was a local prince married to Tamahime which Tagata Shrine worships.

The second portable shrine and main attraction. It is 2.5 meters (13 feet) long, 60 cm diameter, and weighs about 300 kg. It takes 10 days to carve it from a cypress log.

Front view. A new giant, wooden phallus is carved every year since newly-made objects are considered to have more purity and vitality.

It might look light brown here, but it looks more pinkish. It is carved in winter from a hinoki cypress tree by a master artisan wearing ceremonially-purified clothing and using traditional tools.

Maiden poses with the giant penis. In the past, the phallus was attached to a straw effigy of a warrior, but it was deemed too raunchy and discontinued.

Conch shell

Banner with ukiyoe shunga-style painting of a penis.

Another mikoshi with a wooden penis. For a good harvest.

Nose jobI didn't see this among the souvenirs being sold. Wonder where he got it.

Procession maidens pose with wooden penises. Tagata Shrine Honen Festival

Procession maidens pose with wooden penises.

Lots of people pose with the giant penis. Amid hordes of amateur photographers

Many foreigners also join in the fun. The giant phallus was originally about 1 meter long and paraded by itself by 4-5 people with no portable shrine shelter.

Procession maidens pose with the giant penis. The giant phallus was then partially hidden by the portable shrine as it is today. But this made the phallus become larger to 2.5 meters, as if to compensate for this partial shielding.