The Naked Man Festival or Hadaka Matsuri at Saidai-ji Temple in Okayama, was held today. Thousands of men wearing nothing but loincloths battled for good fortune, health and virility at this iconic Japanese festival. Okayama, Japan. 19/02/2011.
he usually tranquil temple of Saidai-ji is transformed into a scene from Dante's Inferno as thousands of almost naked man take part in an ancient Japanese festival.
At 10.00pm a monk from the temple throws sacred shingi (wooden sticks) into the throng of men, and the man who can get the shingi out through the melee to another monk is blessed with good fortune.
The men also take part in a purification rite where they stagger through a pool of freezing water. The termperature at night in February is not far above freezing but the soaking wet and almost naked men are in most cases too drunk to notice.
