- At the ‘Naked Man’ festival, Konomiya Shrine is now welcoming female participants.
- A local guy known as the “godman” in Japanese, is involved in the Hadaka Matsuri event.
- According to legend, anyone who comes into contact with the shin-otoko will bring bad luck with them.
At the ‘Naked Man’ festival, Konomiya Shrine, located in the Aichi prefecture’s Inazawa town, is now welcoming female participants. The 1,250-year-old festival is held in Konomiya Shrine and is anticipated to draw 10,000 spectators on February 22.
According to a representative of the organizing committee, forty women have indicated their want to take part in the upcoming ritual bamboo offering at the shrine, and women were not expressly prohibited from attending the festival this year.
Naked Man festival
A local guy known as the shin-otoko, or “godman” in Japanese, is involved in the Hadaka Matsuri event, which is customarily restricted to men. Hundreds of devotees march to the temple each year through the town, exchanging sake, soaking in frigid water, and weighing portable shrines on long bamboo poles covered in ribbons.
They attempt to touch the fully nude figure as they approach the shrine and cry out for the “godman,” who had been left alone in the days preceding the celebration.
According to legend, anyone who comes into contact with the shin-otoko will bring bad luck with them. Women will take part in the build-up to the big show, but they will not take part in the final crowding rite.
This year’s participant, Ayaka Suzuki, stated that she had always wanted to take part in the event and pray for her family’s safety as well as the safety of people impacted by the earthquake on the Noto Peninsula.
