21 February 2004
Last Updated: 18/09/04
This is it...the Haddaka Matsuri. A festival in which men get naked, put on sumo-style nappies, and run around the streets getting water sprayed on them, before ending up at a temple. They all (well, many of them) squeeze onto a platform at the temple. A stick is then thrown (?) amongst them, and they have grapple for it. The winner is the person who ends up with the stick. Or at least this is what I understand. The whole stick-thing lasted about 2 minutes...
It was all really interesting, though, and thousands (?) of people took part! The atmosphere was amazing.
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Participants run through the streets |
Yum!
Festival food! Sweet potatoes covered in sugar |
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More-or-less naked men |
Participants stop to pose for a photo |
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Gaijin...um...derriers |
Amber and Christina enjoying the view |
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The temple, with a few naked(ish) men |
Brandon, Christina and Amber |
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Amber, me and Brandon |
Squeezing more onto the platform |
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Christina and me |
Amber, with grapes-on-a-stick |
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Amber and Christina doze while our funky guide watches on! |
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