For more than 1,200 years, the Hadaka Matsuri Naked Festival has only had men participating, but this year that has changed.
A sea of shouting, nearly naked men jostle and push their way toward the Konomiya Shrine in the center of the country. “Washoi! Washoi” (let’s go, let’s go), they shout. It’s a scene that has barely changed in the 1,250-year history of Japan’s famous Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival.
But this year women were also present at the festival on February 22. "They know they are making history," the BBC commented.
The first women appeared at the Hadaka Matsuri festival this year. Photo: Reuters
It's not that women have never participated in Hadaka Matsuri, but they have traditionally been behind-the-scenes workers. "Women have worked very hard to support the men during the festival," said Atsuko Tamakoshi, whose family has worked at the festival at Konomiya Shrine for generations. The idea of women participating in the festival, where only men are allowed to participate in rituals to ward off evil spirits and pray for good luck, was unheard of. Naruhito Tsunoda, a resident, said Japan had never had a ban on women participating before. "It's just that no one has ever raised the issue," he said.
Tsunoda said the most important thing about the festival is that everyone has fun and "heaven and earth are pleased if women participate".
Not everyone feels that way. Many people express concern, saying, “What are women doing at a men’s festival?” “But we all agree to do what we want to do and believe that heaven will bless us if we are sincere,” said Atsuko Tamakoshi, a 56-year-old grandmother.
Unlike men, women who appear at the festival do not wear loincloths like men. They wear "happy coats", a long purple robe with white shorts, and carry their own procession made of bamboo.
Atsuko Tamakoshi wears a long purple coat to participate in the festival. Photo: BBC
This group of women do not participate in the competition like men in the festival to touch the Shin Otoko god (a man will be chosen to play this god) for good luck and to ward off bad luck.
When it was time for the ceremony, the women made their way to the shrine. They lined up in two rows, carrying long bamboo poles wrapped in interwoven red and white ribbons on their shoulders, chanting the familiar rhythm they had heard the men say for decades.
“Washoi Washoi,” the women shouted, concentrating on the movements and speed they had been practicing for weeks. They knew they had to get it right. Knowing that the world’s media and tourists were watching them, the women smiled and tensed. The crowd watching them shouted words of encouragement as they passed.
“Times have finally changed,” said Yumiko Fujie, a woman who participated in the festival. She felt a responsibility to maintain the tradition of women appearing at the Hadaka Matsuri every year, not just this year.
Like the men, women entering the Konomiya Shinto shrine are ritually doused with cold water. The women's activities are just one of the rituals of the ceremony, not the main momiai of the festival. During the momiai, men wearing traditional fundoshi loincloths, tabi socks, and hachimaki scarves jostle each other, trying to transfer their bad luck to the "chosen one" (Shin Otoko) by touching him before he retreats to the safety of the shrine.
After the women's offerings were accepted, they ended the ceremony with the traditional greeting: bowing and clapping twice, then bowing one last time.
Scene of the Hadaka Matsuri festival, an event that has only been attended by men for over 1,000 years. Photo: Reuters
And then, the memorable moment began. The women burst into cheers, jumped around, and hugged each other, crying. They thanked the cheering crowd.
As the women left the shrine, many locals and tourists stood around and stopped them to take photos with them. Media from various countries also wanted to interview them. "I am very happy to be one of the first women to participate," said Mineko Akahori.
Akahori's teammate Minako Ando added "being the first to do something is amazing".
Atsuko Tamakoshi, who played a key role in the procession, said she was both moved and relieved. "My husband always participates in this festival and I am a spectator. Now I am filled with gratitude and happiness," she said.
Anh Minh (According to BBC, Reuters )
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