 Most viewed - Inazawa 稲沢市 |
Konomiya Hadaka Festival, Inazawa, Aichi Pref.568 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.548 views
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527 views
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Gaijin girls had an easy time attracting men who happily tried to converse in English and bestow cloth strips.469 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station422 views
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406 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.403 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.390 views
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383 views
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Sometimes a man from the window jumps into the crowd to grab and take in the Sacred Man.374 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko 神男：加藤 典彦359 views
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They zig-zag along the street, and they are filled with sake.358 views
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Maybe this is the Sacred Man being pulled into the window.343 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335 views
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Gaijin talking to gaijin. Sounded Australian. English teacher at junior high.334 views
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324 views
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319 views
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306 views
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300 views
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They get pretty crazy, getting more water.295 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292 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station291 views
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Every once in a while, they raise their pole.290 views
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The Sacred Man struggles to reach the small window.285 views
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280 views
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Closeup of giant mochi. Solid as a rock.280 views
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Numerous groups of near-naked men (no women) proceed to the shrine all afternoon.276 views
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On the straight road from Inazawa Station to Konomiya Shrine.275 views
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When the Sacred Man enters the window, everyone cheers.272 views
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Tree surrounded with cloth strips called Naoi-gire265 views
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Some of the men tear off strips from their handband and give them to bystanders.261 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.260 views
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The men in the window give directions to the Sacred Man.252 views
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The festival is over.251 views
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All the men want to touch the Sacred Man, believing that it will dispel bad luck.250 views
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248 views
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Konomiya Shrine torii and the long path to the shrine is lined with a large crowd.247 views
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This is the small window the Sacred Man has to enter. It has a sprinkler system.247 views
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The window where the Sacred Man entered.247 views
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Zig-zag to the shrine240 views
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The inner path to the shrine gets more crowded.239 views
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All the men look in the direction of the Sacred Man.233 views
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They are waiting for the Sacred Man.230 views
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Giant mochi inside the Haiden hall. 大鏡餅奉納229 views
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More giant mochi offered to the shrine. Notice the forklift. 大鏡餅奉納228 views
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The men are shouting "Kami-o Kami-o" (another way of pronouncing the kanji for Kami-otoko). 神男221 views
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220 views
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Haiden Hall where the men offer their long poles. 拝殿220 views
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Men with buckets come for a refill.214 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.214 views
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207 views
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After passing through this gate, the men enter the shrine grounds. Romon Gate 楼門206 views
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203 views
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Another torii202 views
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202 views
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Inside the shrine hall.200 views
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Men start to pour into the shrine.196 views
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Now they start to splash cold water on the men, and some of the spectators.191 views
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190 views
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Romon Gate 楼門189 views
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187 views
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Now empty, this path will soon be filled with thousands of men in loincloths.184 views
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Banzai cheers when an extra-large pole was brought to the shrine.183 views
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Splashing water183 views
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Water supply183 views
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Haiden Hall 拝殿182 views
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Stacking up the poles.180 views
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175 views
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