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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