Women to Participate in Central Japan’s Traditionally Men-Only ‘Hadaka Matsuri’ Naked Festival for 1st Time
18:30 JST, January 21, 2024
This year, women will participate for the first time in the traditionally men-only Hadaka Matsuri naked festival held at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture. One of the roughly 40 women planning to participate in the festival to be held on Feb. 22 spoke about her excitement at a press conference at the shrine on Saturday.
Ayaka Suzuki, 36, said she had wanted to take part in the festival ever since she was a little girl, thinking, “I could’ve participated if I were a boy!” She is a vice chair of a women’s group that pushed to allow women’s participation in the festival.
The festival traditionally features a huge group of men clad in white fundoshi loincloths pushing each other to drive away evil spirits. This year, about 40 women from the group will pay a visit to the shrine as part of the festival, wearing traditional happi coats, but at a different time slot from the men.
“I’d like to pray for the safety of my family and for the people affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake,” Suzuki said at the press conference. “I will take good care of myself until the day of the festival.”
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
-
JAL Airplane Experiences Radio Malfunction During Flight, Lands Safely By Relying on Light Signals
-
Cherry tree falls on man on Sanneizaka steps leading to famous Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
-
Earthquake in Western Japan a Reminder to Be Ready for the Big One; 14% of People Have Made No Preparations, Survey Says
-
Small Animal That Appears to be Mouse Found in Chojuku Bread Products; Some Brands on Same Production Line to be Recalled Voluntarily
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Weakening Yen Adds Complexity to BOJ’s Rate Hike Decisions; Rising Commodity Prices may Impact ‘Virtuous Cycle’ Efforts
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- Japanese Seafood Exports to China Sink 57% in FY23; U.S. Becomes Largest Seafood Export Destination
- 48.6% of Global Patent Applications Related to All-Solid-State Batteries Came from Japanese Firms; Panasonic Tops List
- Core Consumer Prices Rise 2.8% in Fiscal 2023