Hadaka Matsuri: Naked Festival!

My Japan-related YouTube buddy Gimmeabreakman posted this video up about a week ago – it does an amazing job summing up naked men, festivals, and Japan, all in one (very nice HD) video, which you can view above.

The Hadaka Matsuri happens all over Japan at different times, though there tends to be a lot more of them in the winter, when it’s especially cold (another popular time is summer, for the weak girly-men). Mostly men strip down, drink saké, and put on shorts or loincloths (fundoshi) to keep themselves somewhat decent (though some people do end up going 100% naked, and it usually isn’t considered vulgar). It’s a Shinto purifying ritual, and a pretty damn cold looking one at that. Sometimes there’s a “sacred object” that people try to find / touch for good luck. It looks like this particular Hadaka Matsuri’s “sacred object” was that poor dude getting mobbed by a bunch of naked, wet, probably very drunk, men.

This particular version looks like disaster waiting to happen…

Should you want to go to a Hadaka Matsuri and experience the excitement for yourself, I found some vague info on when / where these are held throughout the year, though I’m sure there are plenty more (you’ll have to ask your local contacts, I’m afraid). You can view the article with Naked Festival scheduling information here.

Anyways, Nice Job, Victor. We’re all very pleased that you didn’t strip down for everyone on camera. Give him a subscribe if you want to see his clothes stay on (or off) and see more Japan related stuff, like the video above!

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