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[Breaking News]Japan's "naked festival" leaves 3 unconscious

OKAYAMA, Japan, Feb. 22 Kyodo - Nearly naked men take part in the annual Saidaiji Eyo festival at Saidaiji temple in Okayama, western Japan, on Feb. 21, 2026. Three men became unconscious after the participants, wearing only loincloths, jostled to catch wooden sacred talismans during the traditional event dating back to the Muromachi period (1336-1573). (Kyodo)

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Japan's "naked festival" leaves 3 unconscious

Nearly naked men take part in the annual Saidaiji Eyo festival at Saidaiji temple in Okayama, western Japan, on Feb. 21, 2026. Three men became unconscious after the participants, wearing only loincloths, jostled to catch wooden sacred talismans during the traditional event dating back to the Muromachi period (1336-1573).

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the traditional naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 3, 2023, hoping to ward off evil spirits. The event, involving close body contact, took place after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the traditional naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 3, 2023, hoping to ward off evil spirits. The event, involving close body contact, took place after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the traditional naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 3, 2023, hoping to ward off evil spirits. The event, involving close body contact, took place after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the traditional naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 3, 2023, hoping to ward off evil spirits. The event, involving close body contact, took place after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

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Shrine festival in Aichi to ward off evil

INAZAWA, Japan - Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle during the "Konomiya hadaka matsuri" (Konomiya naked festival) at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 12, 2014, to touch one chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) in the hope of warding off evil spirits.

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Hot water festival

NAGANOHARA, Japan - Some 60 near-naked men, ranging from teenagers to those in their 50s, splash each other with hot water while cheering in the predawn cold during a "hot water festival" at a hot spring resort in the town of Naganohara, Gunma Prefecture, on Jan. 20, 2014. The festival, intended to bring prosperity to the local community, is said to have its origins in a legend that a dried-up hot spring started to discharge hot water again after local residents dedicated a chicken to it some 400 years ago.

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Hot water festival

NAGANOHARA, Japan - Near-naked men cheer and splash hot water over each other in a "hot water festival" held in the pre-dawn chill at a hot spring resort in the town of Naganohara, Gunma Prefecture, on Jan. 20, 2014. The festival reaches a climax when four chickens burst forth from balls hanging overhead. The festival, intended to bring prosperity to the local community, is said to have its origins in a legend that a dried-up hot spring started to discharge hot water again after local residents dedicated a chicken to it some 400 years ago.

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Hot water festival

NAGANOHARA, Japan - Some 60 near-naked men, ranging from teenagers to those in their 50s, splash each other with hot water while cheering in the predawn cold during a "hot water festival" at a hot spring resort in the town of Naganohara, Gunma Prefecture, on Jan. 20, 2014. The festival, intended to bring prosperity to the local community, is said to have its origins in a legend that a dried-up hot spring started to discharge hot water again after local residents dedicated a chicken to it some 400 years ago.

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Hot water festival

NAGANOHARA, Japan - Some 60 almost naked young men splash each other with hot water while cheering in the predawn hours in a ''hot water festival'' at a hot spring resort in the town of Naganohara, Japan, on Jan. 20, 2011. The festival, intended to wish for the prosperity of the local community, is said to originate in the legend that a dried-up hot spring started to discharge hot water again after local residents dedicated a chicken some 400 years ago. The area would be submerged if the controversial Yamba Dam project goes ahead.

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Boating Festival at Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine in Wakayama

SHINGU, Japan - Nine ''speedboats'' rowed by half-naked men perform a traditional boating race as part of the Boating Festival held Oct. 16 by the Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine, one of the three Kumano grand shrines on the estuary of Kumano River, Wakayama Prefecture.

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Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

Rauno Juvonen, Tommi Korpela & Jorma Tommila Characters: Piiparinen, Aimo, Rauno Kontio Film: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Director: Jalmari Helander 07 August 2010 Date: 07 August 2010

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X-Men 2 (2003)

Ian Mckellen, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Hugh Jackman & Halle Berry Characters: ERIC LENSHERR,MYSTIQUE,LOGAN, WOLVERINE & STORM Film: X-Men 2 (USA/CAN 2003) Director: Bryan Singer 24 April 2003 Date: 24 April 2003

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X-Men 2 (2003)

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos Film: X-Men 2 (USA/CAN 2003) Director: Bryan Singer 24 April 2003 Date: 24 April 2003

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Cunard line poster

Rather curious poster produced by Cunard showing a passenger liner sailing in the distance while two naked boys sit and watch the liner perched on a ship on the seashore. Not sure what that's all about. Date: 20th century

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Hadaka Matsuri at Saidai temple in Okayama

About 9,000 men wearing only traditional Japanese "fundoshi" loincloths jostle over a pair of lucky sticks, 4 centimeters in diameter and 20 cm long, thrown into the crowd during Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival) at Saidai temple in Okayama, western Japan, on Feb. 20, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Hadaka Matsuri at Saidai temple in Okayama

About 9,000 men wearing only traditional Japanese "fundoshi" loincloths jostle over a pair of lucky sticks, 4 centimeters in diameter and 20 cm long, thrown into the crowd during Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival) at Saidai temple in Okayama, western Japan, on Feb. 20, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Fukushima man shows photo of defunct 'Naked Pilgrimage' procession

Yasunari Matsuzaki, a fire brigade member of Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, shows on Jan. 14, 2015, a picture of the erstwhile "Naked Pilgrimage" procession in which local citizens poured water on scantily clad men parading on a street in the northeastern Japan town to pray for fire prevention. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Half-naked young men jostle at northwestern Japan festival

Hundreds of half-naked junior high school students and other young men jostle on March 3, 2015, at a festival in a hall of Fukoji, a Buddhist temple in Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture, northwestern Japan, to pray for a rich harvest and good health. The annual festival started more than 1,200 years ago. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Boating Festival at Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine in Wakayama

SHINGU, Japan - Nine ''speedboats'' rowed by half-naked men perform a traditional boating race as part of the Boating Festival held Oct. 16 by the Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine, one of the three Kumano grand shrines on the estuary of Kumano River, Wakayama Prefecture. (Kyodo)

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A cargo carrier

The life of commoners was free and open as shown in this photograph. Men were almost naked on hot days, wearing only head towels, loincloths and straw sandals. These men are most likely gardeners.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number69‐47‐0]

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The Tamadare Falls,Yumoto Spa

The present-day Tamadare Waterfall at Tenseien Hotel in Yumoto Spa has been fixed after the fall was destroyed due to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Therefore, at the time of this photo, the waterfall was bigger and the volume of water was much more. Men and women half naked are bathing in the fall. The fall was made to be a park and a famous touristic place as well as the place for daily practical use.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number59‐44‐0]

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Hot water festival

NAGANOHARA, Japan - Some 60 almost naked young men splash each other with hot water while cheering in the predawn hours in a ''hot water festival'' at a hot spring resort in the town of Naganohara, Japan, on Jan. 20, 2011. The festival, intended to wish for the prosperity of the local community, is said to originate in the legend that a dried-up hot spring started to discharge hot water again after local residents dedicated a chicken some 400 years ago. The area would be submerged if the controversial Yamba Dam project goes ahead. (Kyodo)

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Traditional naked festival at Japanese shrine

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Men, cross country skiers, naked, top, Radhost, ski, funny

Naked corss country skiers pose for photographer on the top of Radhost near Pustevny in Beskydy Mountains, January 9, 2021. (CTK Photo/Drahoslav Ramik)

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 6, 2020, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 6, 2020, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 6, 2020, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival in Japan

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 6, 2020, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival at Japanese shrine

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival at Japanese shrine

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 9, 2017, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival at Japanese shrine

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 9, 2017, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival at Japanese shrine

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 9, 2017, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Traditional naked festival at Japanese shrine

Thousands of men wearing only "fundoshi" undergarments jostle to touch a chosen "shin otoko" (holy man) during the annual naked festival at Konomiya shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 9, 2017, hoping to ward off evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Festival of semi-naked men in Osaka temple

Hundreds of young men, wearing only loincloths and headbands, scramble to catch charms to fend off evil that have been scattered from the ceiling of Osaka's Shitenno-ji temple during the annual Doya Doya festival on Jan. 14, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in snow

Four nearly naked men aged 15 to 25 splash cold water over each other in temperatures of minus 5 C and snow during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for bumper fish and farm crops, at a shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual in snow

Four nearly naked men aged 15 to 25 splash cold water over each other in temperatures of minus 5 C and snow during a Shinto ritual dating back to 1831 to pray for bumper fish and farm crops, at a shrine in Kikonai, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 13, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo