国府宮はだか祭2014｜Peculiar festival 「HADAKAMATSURI (naked festival)」

天下の奇祭　　国府宮はだか祭(こうのみやはだかまつり) 2014.2.12 Inazawa, Japan The following description is an extract from the website of Inazawa City. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 　Hadaka matsuri is numbered among the three big peculiar festivals in Japan. The beginning ascends to the Nara period, about 1240 years ago. This festival is known as HADAKA MATSURI (Naked festival), but the actual name is "NAOI SHINJI (Evil expelling Shinto event)". This originates from that Owari KOKUSHI(the governor of Owari domain) practiced an exorcism to pray for epidemic to escape at Owari Ohkuni Tama Jinja. (Konomiya shrine). On January 13th by the lunar calendar, the whole district of Konomiya shrine where Hadaka matsuri is held is wrapped in excitement of the festival. In the approach to the shrine, thousands of Hadaka Otoko (naked men) push and shove one another to touch Shin-Otoko(a consecrated man) and drive out evil. Rumbling of the ground collides with shout and is continued for about an hour until Shin-Otoko reach Naoi-den of Konomiya shrine.