Six Injured, Three Unconscious, at Japan's Saidaiji Eyo 'Naked Festival'

Injuries Reported at Traditional Japanese Festival

Okayama, Japan – Six participants were injured, with three rendered unconscious, during the annual Saidaiji Eyo Festival, commonly known as the 'Naked Festival,' held at Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple in Okayama City. The incident occurred on Saturday, February 21, at approximately 10 p.m., leading to the hospitalization of all six individuals. Local police in Okayama Prefecture have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injuries.

The Saidaiji Eyo Festival: A Centuries-Old Tradition

The Saidaiji Eyo Festival is a historic and culturally significant event, designated as a Japanese Important Intangible Cultural Property. With roots tracing back over 500 years to the Muromachi period, the festival sees approximately 10,000 men, clad only in traditional Japanese loincloths known as fundoshi, gather at the temple. The climax of the festival involves a fierce scramble for two sacred wooden talismans, or 'Shingi,' which are thrown into the crowd by a priest. Participants believe that whoever successfully obtains one of these 20-centimeter-long sticks will be blessed with good luck and fortune for the entire year.

Rituals and Risks of the 'Hadaka Matsuri'

Before the intense competition for the Shingi, participants undergo a purification ritual, bathing in cold water, often in the Yoshii River or designated purification pools, to cleanse themselves. The festival is renowned for its vigorous and chaotic nature, with thousands of men jostling intensely in a tightly packed space. While a deeply spiritual event, the inherent physicality of the Saidaiji Eyo Festival carries known risks. Reports indicate that injuries occur 'nearly every year,' and a fatality was recorded in 2007. Despite the prevailing image of a men's-only event, the festival also includes events for women, such as the Eyo Taiko drummers, and a 'Boy's Naked Festival' for elementary school students.

Investigation Underway

Authorities are currently investigating the specific details of how the six participants sustained their injuries during this year's event. The festival, held annually on the third Saturday of February, continues to draw large crowds of both participants and spectators eager to witness this unique cultural spectacle.