Naked Man Festival

The Naked Man Festival in Okayama was one of my favourite events in Japan and not just for the naked men. The traditional event saw thousands of men perform purification rituals and congregate in the main temple to wrestle for sticks that symbolise prosperity for the year ahead. It was freezing and the darkness made it a challenge for me to take good pictures but these are some of my favourites.

Yatai food stalls, Japan, 2018
Yatai food stalls, Japan, 2018
Monk praying at a shrine, Japan, 2018
Monk praying at a shrine, Japan, 2018
A monk begins the procession, Japan, 2018
A monk begins the procession, Japan, 2018
Groups of men beginning the walk, Japan, 2018
Groups of men beginning the walk, Japan, 2018
Crowding into the shrine, Japan, 2018
Crowding into the shrine, Japan, 2018
Crowding into the shrine, Japan, 2018
Crowding into the shrine, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Many different groups take part in the festival, Japan, 2018
Many different groups take part in the festival, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
Water is thrown to purify the participants, Japan, 2018
With thousands of men crushing together emergency services are on alert, Japan, 2018
With thousands of men crushing together emergency services are on alert, Japan, 2018
Men, Japan, 2018
Men, Japan, 2018
Waiting for the chance to grasp prosperity, Japan, 2018
Waiting for the chance to grasp prosperity, Japan, 2018
The chaos of Okayama Naked Man Festival, Japan, 2018
The chaos of Okayama Naked Man Festival, Japan, 2018
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