Naked Man Festival “Hadaka Matsuri”/ Amazing Japan (from Okayama&Kagawa) - Video

Naked men battle to get sacred sticks.
One of the weirdest festivals in Japan with a history of over 500 years is held in Okayama.

Recorded in February, 2020
This is the Saidaiji-Eyo, known as the “naked man festival”. Each year in February, half-naked men gather in Saidaiji-temple to get Shingi, sacred sticks made of wood. It is believed anyone who gets one will have good fortune.

The men shout out to cheer each other up. Then, they gradually start to get more excited.
It is freezing cold, but they purify their body and spirit with icy water.

（Japanese）
Cold. I will do my best to get Shingi (sacred sticks).

（Foreigners）
Nice feeling. Good experience. (Isn’t it cold?) It’s okay.

Foreign people also visit the festival.

（Media from France）
“In France, we don’t have a festival like this. Western people can’t imagine this kind of festival. We’d like to know how they hold such an excellent festival.

As it gets darker, the atmosphere becomes more eccentric.

（report）
Despite the cold weather, the atmosphere heats up with the feverish excitement of the men. Now, Shingi are finally being dropped.

A pair of Shingi were thrown into the main hall.

Two groups wonShingi.
They are called Fukuotoko, "Fortune men of the year”.

（Fukuotoko）
I wish to spread happiness to everyone.
I would like to share the good fortune with the people around me.

People say that spring will come soon after the festival.
The men’s cheerful voices are announcing the start of spring.

#HadakaMatsuri #NakedManFestibal #SaidaijiEyo
(2019年2月放送)

日本三大奇祭のひとつで、５１０回を数える岡山市東区の西大寺会陽は、
宝木投下を迎えました。年々、外国人の参加者も増え海外からも注目されています。

平成最後の西大寺会陽は宝木投下の夜を迎えました。暗くなるにつれ、続々と裸の男たちが集まってきます。

威勢のいい掛け声が響き渡ります。気温が下がる中、冷たい水で体を清めて男たちの気持ちも徐々に高まっていきます。

海外のメディアもテレビカメラを向けていました。

宝木が投げ入れられる瞬間が近づき、異様な雰囲気に。
壮絶な奪い合いの末、２つのグループが２本の宝木をつかみとり、祝い主もとへ届けられました。ことしの福男です。

西大寺会陽が終わると備前平野に春が来ると言われています。裸の男たちの威勢のいい掛け声が、春の訪れを告げています。

RSKニュース：https://www.rsk.co.jp/news/
RSK山陽放送：https://www.rsk.co.jp/