Nakizumo or “Baby Crying Sumo” festivals are held in the belief that crying babies will grow to be healthy and strong and have prosperous futures – especially so if the crying is long and loud!
Matsuri
Nada no Kenka Matsuri (Nada Fighting Festival)
The Nada no Kenka Matsuri is an especially high-spirited Shinto festival, which brings the local community together in an annual celebration of great cultural and spiritual significance.
Misasa Onsen Hanayu Festival (Misasa no Jinsho)
Misasa Onsen Hanayu Festival (Misasa no Jinsho) culminates in a giant tug of war between two teams of local men representing the western and eastern parts of Misasa Onsen in Tottori Prefecture.
Tottori Shan-Shan Festival
Held in August during Obon, the Tottori Shan-Shan Festival is the region’s largest annual event, during which as many as 4,000 people perform choreographed dances with decorative umbrellas.
Nakada Hadaka Matsuri
Held in the modest locale of Nakada on the outskirts of Nagoya, the Nakada Hadaka Matsuri is a small but thrilling purification ritual believed to drive away bad luck.
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Each year in mid-September, the historic coastal town of Kishiwada proudly hosts the most widely known, well-attended and deadliest “danjiri”, or cart-pulling, festival in Japan.
Miya Festival
The pride of Gamagori City, the Miya Festival is one of the best-known and most spectacular festivals in the Tokai region of Japan.
The Great Bonfire of Toba
One of the most extraordinary festivals in Japan, Toba Dai Kagaribi (The Great Bonfire of Toba) has roots that can be traced back 1,200 years.
Takisanji Oni Matsuri
The Takisanji Oni Matsuri, which features a spectacular fire-based purification ceremony, is an annual ritual to pray for peace and good harvest for the coming year.
Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival)
The Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri has been held in Inazawa since 767 AD, when Emperor Shotoku ordered the performance of cleansing ceremonies to rid the land of a quickly spreading plague.
