yo, rachelmanija!

[telophase]

I found a reason why you'd want to schedule your next trip to Japan in December:

Misogi Matsuri
9 December
Katsuragake Shrine, Gifu Prefecture
Naked men purify themselves in the freezing Nagara River three times during the day at 3pm, 7pm & 10pm.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I dunno...the sight of even buff guys in freezing water is soooo not a turnon. (Unless you like marble-chested vampires!)

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

They will sparkle with water drops!

[chomiji]

Heh heh heh ... poor things!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

But will month-old babies be rolled around in a sumo ring while Shinto priests caw like crows?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

No, but six days before this festival, there's another in which teams of nine men board two boats in Miho Harbour and proceed to vigorously splash each other with cold sea water.

And if you stay until january 3, two groups of semi-naked young men take part in a vigorous struggle to catch a sacred ball which is said to bring good luck to the winning team in the coming year.

ETA2: Check out January 7 (http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=366&pID=394&cName=Japanese%20Festivals&pName=festival-january).

[heyoka.livejournal.com]

It cracks me up that they are making a point of mentioning "loincloth-clad" and suchlike. They know their audience, I guess? XD

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

I think we could make it an LJ fieldtrip. I would definitely go to see men bath naked in freezing cold water 3 times in one day. XD