Why are these 3 festivals in Japan special? People know them as the Naked Festival.

Japan celebrates 'Matsuri' or festivals throughout the year, during which there are three such events in which there is nothing to hide. These events are generally known as 'Naked Festivals', the male participants in these events wear very little clothing.

'Somin-sai' in Kokusekikiji in Iwate, 'Saidaiji Eyo' in Okayama, and 'Hayama-gomori' in Fukushima, all three are popular as naked festivals of Japan. These festivals mainly involve male participants, who wear only a white loincloth on their body, which is called fundoshi.

Hadaka Matsuri or the Naked Festival of Japan

The Hadaka-Matsuri or Naked Festival aims to cleanse the impurities accumulated over the past year and express hope for peace in the coming year. These festivals are usually held during the coldest time of the year during the end of the year and the new year. Male participants in these festivals take a bath in cold water for purity and come out with steam rising from their bodies, this steam reflects the passion and intensity of the festival.

The tradition of participating in the event in the nude in Japan stems from the ancient practice of praying to Shinto deities or Buddhist deities. They are like a newborn baby who is free from impurities. So before participating in these ceremonies, participants abstain from non-veg food and purify their bodies by pouring water over themselves outside. After this, these people ritually push and grapple with each other.

Even more intense is the Hadaka Matsuri, known as Shusho-e, held as the finale to the New Year celebrations. Shusho-e is held to pray for the happiness of the people and a better future, and participants grapple with each other fiercely.

'Somin-sai' is celebrated in Iwate.

According to ancient tales, Somin-Shōrai is said to protect against illness and disaster. This became the focus of a folk belief held throughout Japan in which people write the words 'Descendants of Somin-Shōrai' on a piece of paper which they display on the front door of their homes as a prayer for a peaceful, uneventful time. Over the years this evolved into a new festival known as 'Somin-Sai'. The festival was celebrated throughout the Tohoku region and especially in Iwate Prefecture.

For over a thousand years, participants in Somin-sai at Kokusekikiji have participated in the festival completely naked. In 2007 it was decided that participants would wear loincloths and then it was announced that the festival to be held in 2024 (on February 17) would be the last, as there are no longer enough people left to make the amulets needed for the festival and perform all the other tasks needed to hold the festival.

Okayama's 'Saidaiji Eyo' festival

A ceremony known as Eyo, in which about 10,000 male participants fight for a shingi (wooden amulet) is held over a period of 14 days starting on New Year's Day at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The shingi amulet is made of a split stick of fragrant wood about 20 centimeters in length, which represents the forces of yin and yang and is said to bring a golden future through prayers held in the main temple hall during the New Year season. It is believed that anyone who possesses this amulet will be blessed with a year of good fortune.

Fukushima's 'Hayama-Gomori'

The festival usually begins on November 16, according to the lunar calendar, and lasts for three days. Kuronuma Shrine is located in the Kanezawa district in the southern part of Fukushima City. It is a secret ceremony site that has been held for over a thousand years and involves the giving of omens from the gods to humans. This is the place where the gods are said to descend, known as 'Hayama'.

Usually, visitors are not allowed here, only during the festival one is allowed to go there, which happens only once a year. The purpose of this festival is to pray to God for fertility and a good harvest. In 2023 this festival was organized from 28 December to 31 December, this year it has been fixed for 20-22 December.