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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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'Lucky man race' held at Nishonomiya Shrine in western Japan

NISHINOMIYA, Japan, Jan. 10 Kyodo - The top three finishers of a New Year race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) hold up framed Chinese characters and paintings, all suggesting luck, at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2016. The 16-year-old Michinari Mizuta (C) became the year's "luckiest man" among about 6,000 participants, winning the 230-meter race from the shrine's gate to the main hall.

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Top 3 'lucky man' race finishers hold up character, pictures

OSAKA, Japan - The top three finishers of an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) raise a framed Chinese kanji character and paintings, all suggesting luck, at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2015. From R: runner-up Yuya Koike, winner Tomonori Shiwa and third-place Koki Ishida.

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Winner of 'lucky man race' at Shinto shrine in west Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Tomonori Shiwa raises the Chinese kanji character "fuku" or luck in a frame as the winner of an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2015. He reached the main hall of the Shinto shrine ahead of other participants to be crowned the year's lucky man.

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'Lucky man race' held at Shinto shrine in west Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Participants dash as the gate opens for an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2015. The first man to reach the main hall of the Shinto shrine is crowned the year's lucky man.

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Tora-san Museum welcomes 4 millionth visitor

TOKYO, Japan - A ceremony is held to celebrate the 4 millionth visitor to the Tora-san Museum in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, on Nov. 8, 2014. The museum is dedicated to Tora-san, a kind-hearted vagabond in popular movie series "Otoko wa tsurai yo" directed by Yoji Yamada. From L: actor Gajiro Sato, Yamada, and museum visitors Kenji Aoyagi and his wife Eriko.

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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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Museum decidated to works of film director Yoji Yamada

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese film director Yoji Yamada (2nd from L) visits a museum dedicated to his works, which opened in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Dec. 15, 2012. Yamada's works include the hit series "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" (It's Tough Being a Man).

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Museum dedicated to works of film director Yoji Yamada

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese film director Yoji Yamada (C) attends a ceremony marking the opening of a museum dedicated to his works, in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward, on Dec. 15, 2012. Yamada's works include the hit series "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" (It's Tough Being a Man).

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Film about man who gave cherry trees to U.S.

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Actor Hatsunori Hasegawa (L) and director Toru Ichikawa speak to the audience at the screening of Ichikawa's film, ''TAKAMINE -- America ni sakura o sakaseta otoko (The man who made cherry blossoms bloom in America),'' in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2012. The film is about the life of Jokichi Takamine (1854-1922), a Japanese chemist and businessman who donated 6,000 cherry trees to Washington and New York in 1912. Hasegawa plays Takamine.

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Writer, poet Hemmi dies

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows writer and poet Jun Hemmi, who died at the age of 72 on Sept. 21, 2011, after collapsing at her home in suburban Tokyo. Hemmi wrote fiction and nonfiction stories about people affected by World War II, including the novel ''Otoko-tachi no Yamato'' (Men's Yamato). She is also known as a poet of 31-syllable ''tanka'' poems.

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Kazuki Sakuraba wins Naoki literary prize

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuki Sakuraba, winner of the 138th Naoki Prize, speaks to reporters at Tokyo Kaikan in Tokyo on Jan. 16 after she was declared recipient of the prestigious literary award for her work ''Watashi no Otoko'' (My Man).

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Kazuki Sakuraba wins prestigious Naoki Prize

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of Kazuki Sakuraba, 36, who on Jan. 16 won the prestigious Naoki Prize for her work ''Watashi no Otoko'' (My Man).

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Kawakami wins Akutagawa award, Sakuraba gets Naoki Prize

TOKYO, Japan - Mieko Kawakami (R), winner of the 138th Akutagawa Prize, and Kazuki Sakuraba (L), winner of the Naoki Prize, pose for photographers at Tokyo Kaikan in Tokyo on Jan. 16 after they were declared recipients of the two prestigious literary awards. Kawakami, 31, won the Akutagawa Prize for her work ''Chichi to Ran'' (Breasts and Egg) and Sakuraba, 36, received the Naoki Prize for her work ''Watashi no Otoko'' (My Man)

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Actor Matsumura, who played Tora-san uncle, dies at 90

TOKYO, Japan - Tatsuo Matsumura (in a photo taken in July 1999), a veteran actor who played the role of an uncle of the main character Tora-san in the long-running hit film series ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' (It's Tough Being a Man), died of heart failure on June 18 at a hospital in Tokyo, an actors' cooperative society said June 28. He was 90.

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Actor Matsumura, who played Tora-san uncle, dies at 90

TOKYO, Japan - Tatsuo Matsumura, a veteran actor who played the role of an uncle of the main character Tora-san in the long-running hit film series ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' (It's Tough Being a Man), died of heart failure on June 18 at a hospital in Tokyo, an actors' cooperative society said June 28. He was 90. (Kyodo)

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East Japan's 2011 disaster reminds old woman of WWII experience

Otoko Wada talks about her wartime experience in front of what used to be a bomb shelter in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, as seen in this photo taken on Jan. 29, 2015, where she joined other escapees from U.S. gunboat attacks in the closing days of World War II. The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Iwate and other parts of the northeastern Japan region reminded the 85-year-old woman of the fears she experienced during the war. (Photo by Yohei Kanazashi) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shigeru Mizuki museum marks 1st anniversary YONAGO, Japan - Japanese cartoonist Shigeru Mizuki draws his ghost and monster characters ''Kitaro'' and ''Nezumi Otoko'' on the wall of the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum in Tottori Prefecture. The photo was taken on March 7, 2004. (Kyodo)

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'Lucky man race' held at Nishonomiya Shrine in western Japan

Runners dash to the main hall of Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishionomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan on Jan. 10, 2016, as the gate opened for an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man). The first man to reach the main hall, roughly 230 meters away, is crowned the year's luckiest man. About 6,000 people took part in the annual event to pray for good business. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Statues of "yokai" monsters cleaned ahead of New Year

Local people wipe the dirt off the statues of Shigeru Mizuki (C) drawing cartoons at his desk, being watched by Kitaro (R), a boy "yokai" monster character, and a rat man named Nezumi Otoko (L), alongside the "Mizuki Shigeru Road" shopping street in Sakaiminato, western Japan, on Dec. 29, 2015. Local people annually wipe the dirt off more than 150 bronze statues of characters from the late cartoonist's horror comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" at the yearend to express their gratitude for the statues that draw an annual 2 million tourists to the town. Mizuki, who hailed from Sakaiminato, died in November. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Director Yamada attends event featuring movie icon "Tora-san"

Yoji Yamada (5th from L), a Japanese film director known for his "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" (It's Tough Being a Man) series, attends an opening ceremony for the first "Tora-san summit" event at the Shibamata Taishakuten temple in downtown Tokyo on Nov. 7, 2015. The area is where the film's main character "Tora-san," played by the late actor Kiyoshi Atsumi, had his home. The two-day event brought together food and alcoholic beverages from locations across Japan where the 48-episode series was shot. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Men in costume of film icon "Tora-san" pose before Tokyo temple

Wearing the signature costume of movie icon "Tora-san," men strike a pose in front of the famed Shibamata Taishakuten Buddhist temple in downtown Tokyo on Nov. 7, 2015. Tora-san is a kind-hearted vagabond in the popular Japanese movie series "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" (It's Tough Being a Man), starring the late Kiyoshi Atsumi, and a two-day "Tora-san summit" event was held through the following day in an area around the temple where Tora-san had his home. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Director Yamada speaks at event featuring movie icon "Tora-san"

Yoji Yamada, a Japanese film director known for his "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" (It's Tough Being a Man) series, delivers a speech at a ceremony opening the first "Tora-san summit" event at the Shibamata Taishakuten temple in downtown Tokyo on Nov. 7, 2015. The area is where the film's main character "Tora-san," played by the late actor Kiyoshi Atsumi, had his home. The two-day event brought together food and alcoholic beverages from locations across Japan where the 48-episode series was shot. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Viennese park to be named after 'Tora-san'

VIENNA, Austria - A park featuring a Japanese garden in the Floridsdorf district of Vienna, in photos taken Aug. 20, will be named after ''Tora-san,'' the central character in the long-running Japanese film series ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' (It's Tough Being a Man). (Kyodo)

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Kazuki Sakuraba wins prestigious Naoki Prize

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of Kazuki Sakuraba, 36, who on Jan. 16 won the prestigious Naoki Prize for her work ''Watashi no Otoko'' (My Man). (Kyodo)

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Kazuki Sakuraba wins Naoki literary prize

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuki Sakuraba, winner of the 138th Naoki Prize, speaks to reporters at Tokyo Kaikan in Tokyo on Jan. 16 after she was declared recipient of the prestigious literary award for her work ''Watashi no Otoko'' (My Man). (Kyodo)

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Kawakami wins Akutagawa award, Sakuraba gets Naoki Prize

TOKYO, Japan - Mieko Kawakami (R), winner of the 138th Akutagawa Prize, and Kazuki Sakuraba (L), winner of the Naoki Prize, pose for photographers at Tokyo Kaikan in Tokyo on Jan. 16 after they were declared recipients of the two prestigious literary awards. Kawakami, 31, won the Akutagawa Prize for her work ''Chichi to Ran'' (Breasts and Egg) and Sakuraba, 36, received the Naoki Prize for her work ''Watashi no Otoko'' (My Man) (Kyodo)

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The hundred-step Otokozaka slope at Mt. Atago

The stone stairs leading to Atago Shinto Shrine at the top of Mt. Atago. The steps in the centre, Otoko-zaka (Man Slope), are mentioned in old stories and songs as the place where Magaki Heikuro ascended and descended on horseback. The inclination of about 40 degrees seems too steep for a horse. The gently-sloping staircase on the right is Onna-zaka (Woman Slope). There was a third slope called Shin-zaka (New Slope) at the other side of the mountain. One of the photographs in the album sold by Baron Raimund von Stillfried Rathenitz, this may have been taken by Felix Beato in the early years of the Meiji Period.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:R. Stillfried, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number78‐24‐0]

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Geisha in theatrical kimono

Five women dressed in the Shiranami Gonin Otoko style, with high sandals, hanging towel and Japanese umbrellas. Caption reads Weibliche Kosdumgruppe.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:Kusakabe Kinbei, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number1‐5‐0]

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Writer, poet Hemmi dies

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows writer and poet Jun Hemmi, who died at the age of 72 on Sept. 21, 2011, after collapsing at her home in suburban Tokyo. Hemmi wrote fiction and nonfiction stories about people affected by World War II, including the novel ''Otoko-tachi no Yamato'' (Men's Yamato). She is also known as a poet of 31-syllable ''tanka'' poems. (Kyodo)

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Film about man who gave cherry trees to U.S.

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Actor Hatsunori Hasegawa (L) and director Toru Ichikawa speak to the audience at the screening of Ichikawa's film, ''TAKAMINE -- America ni sakura o sakaseta otoko (The man who made cherry blossoms bloom in America),'' in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2012. The film is about the life of Jokichi Takamine (1854-1922), a Japanese chemist and businessman who donated 6,000 cherry trees to Washington and New York in 1912. Hasegawa plays Takamine. (Kyodo)

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'Lucky man race' held at Shinto shrine in west Japan

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Participants dash as the gate opens for an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2015. The first man to reach the main hall of the Shinto shrine is crowned the year's lucky man. (Kyodo)

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Tora-san Museum welcomes 4 millionth visitor

TOKYO, Japan - A ceremony is held to celebrate the 4 millionth visitor to the Tora-san Museum in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, on Nov. 8, 2014. The museum is dedicated to Tora-san, a kind-hearted vagabond in popular movie series "Otoko wa tsurai yo" directed by Yoji Yamada. From L: actor Gajiro Sato, Yamada, and museum visitors Kenji Aoyagi and his wife Eriko. (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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Shibamata in Tokyo

Undated file photo shows three men dressed like Tora-san, the main character of "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (It's tough being a man), a popular long-running series of comedy movies, in front of the Shibamata Taishakuten temple in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. Shibamata is Tora-san's hometown. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shibamata in Tokyo

File photo, taken on Dec. 15, 2017, shows a statue of Tora-san, the main character of the "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (It's tough being a man) series of comedy movies, in front of Shibamata Station in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shibamata in Tokyo

Undated file photo shows the approach to the Shibamata Taishakuten temple in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. The area is famous as the setting of "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (It's tough being a man), a popular long-running series of comedy movies. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shibamata in Tokyo

Undated file photo shows the approach to the Shibamata Taishakuten temple in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. The area is famous as the setting of "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (It's tough being a man), a popular long-running series of comedy movies. (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 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