02:00Japan: See thousands of half-naked men battle over lucky sticks in Okayama
Around 9,000 semi-naked men wearing only loincloth gathered at the Saidaiji Temple in the city of Okayama to participate in the annual Hadaka Matsuri, known as Naked Festival, Saturday.
Around 9,000 semi-naked men clad only in loincloths took part in the annual Hadaka Matsuri, known as the Naked Festival, in the city of Okayama on Saturday night.
Men in fundoshis, the traditional Japanese loincloth, gather every year in the Saidaiji temple to compete for the honourable title of 'lucky man.' After purifying themselves in freezing water, the men struggle fiercely with one another over a pair of lucky sticks, known as shingi, which are thrown into the crowd from a four-metre-high window by a priest.
According to local tradition, the men who get hold of the shingi and manage to prevent others snatching them away will be rewarded with a year of health, wealth and prosperity.
02:00Around 9,000 semi-naked men wearing only loincloth gathered at the Saidaiji Temple in the city of Okayama to participate in the annual Hadaka Matsuri, known as Naked Festival, Saturday.
Around 9,000 semi-naked men clad only in loincloths took part in the annual Hadaka Matsuri, known as the Naked Festival, in the city of Okayama on Saturday night.
Men in fundoshis, the traditional Japanese loincloth, gather every year in the Saidaiji temple to compete for the honourable title of 'lucky man.' After purifying themselves in freezing water, the men struggle fiercely with one another over a pair of lucky sticks, known as shingi, which are thrown into the crowd from a four-metre-high window by a priest.
According to local tradition, the men who get hold of the shingi and manage to prevent others snatching them away will be rewarded with a year of health, wealth and prosperity.