Saidaiji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri 2010

The Saidai-ji Hadaka Matsuri is more famously known as the Okayama Naked Man festival. It’s one of the three most eccentric festivals of Japan. Up to nine thousand men wearing only loincloths (Fundoshi in japanese) struggle fiercely with one another over a pair of lucky sacred sticks (Shingi in Japanese), thrown into the crowd by the priest from a window 4m up. Anyone who luckily gets hold of the shingi and thrusts them upright in a wooden measuring box known as a “Masu” which is heaped with rice is called the lucky man, and is blessed with a year of happiness.

The origins of this festival date back 500 years when worshipers competed to receive paper talismans called Go-o thrown by the priest. These paper talismans were tokens of the completion of New Year ascetic training by the priests. As those people receiving these paper talismans had good things happen to them, the number of people requesting them increased year by year. However, as paper was easily torn, the talismans were changed to the wooden ofuda that we know today.

Shouting out ‘Wasshoi! Wasshoi!’ the almost naked men approach the precincts. Although this festival takes place in winter, the fervor of the men waiting impatiently is so strong that they seem to have difficulty breathing, which is why water is splashed over them. Precisely at midnight, the lights are turned off all at once, the sacred sticks are thrown into the crowd, and the vehement rush to grab the sticks starts. Even if someone is lucky enough to get hold of the sacred sticks, they are quickly snatched away by others, almost like a rugby game.

There are paid seats available and if you want to have a good view on the festivals main-event then i suggest you spend a bit of money on them although you need to be quick – they are sold on the Saidaiji website and sell out months before the event. Places to stand are also available and can be bought from the festival committee headquarter during the day of the event.

Transport: Saidai-ji temple is about 10km to the east of Okayama-city. (about 3 hours drive south of Osaka). Traffic moves slowly and roads are usually congested … the best option is to take the train. There are also additional buses driving back to Okayaman JR Station after the event.

Website: The official website (all in Japanese) is the one here and there is also some information about it on the JNTO homepage in English.