When discussing Japanese culture, one cannot overlook the significance of festivals.

 

Throughout the year, various festivals are held across the country, each reflecting the rich traditions and spiritual beliefs of the local communities. Among these, the Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival) stands out as one of the most extraordinary and unique.

As the name suggests, participants take part in sacred rituals while nearly naked. What makes these festivals even more remarkable is that they are often held in the harsh cold of winter.

 

In the freezing air, where the wind cuts through the skin and every breath turns to white mist, men clad in nothing but a fundoshi (traditional loincloth) come together, clashing with one another as they fervently pray to the gods. Their raw, almost primal presence exudes both intensity and mysticism, embodying a profound spiritual energy that transcends time.

 

But why do people strip down for these festivals in Japan?

 

At the heart of this tradition lies the ancient Japanese belief in purification and warding off misfortune.

By exploring the history and significance of the Hadaka Matsuri—a tradition passed down through generations—we can gain deeper insight into the essence of Japanese spirituality.

 

The Meaning and Origins of Hadaka Matsuri – Why Go Naked?

 

At its core, the Hadaka Matsuri is a ritual in which participants strip down to rid themselves of impurities and stand before the divine in their purest form.

 

The Concept of “Nakedness as Purity”

In Japan, being naked has long been associated with purification—shedding the physical and spiritual kegare (impurity) to attain a state of cleanliness.

 

In Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan, misogi is a purification ritual in which one washes away impurities by immersing in rivers, seas, or waterfalls. Similarly, takigyo (waterfall meditation) is practiced as a form of ascetic training to cleanse both body and mind.

 

The Hadaka Matsuri shares this same spiritual foundation. By removing their clothes and exposing their bare skin, participants symbolically cast off the impurities of daily life and face the divine in their most unadulterated state.

 

In traditional Japanese thought, clothing is believed to accumulate impurities over time. Thus, to properly offer prayers to the gods, one must first strip away these impurities—both literal and metaphorical. In this sense, being naked is not simply an eccentric custom, but a deeply sacred act of returning to one’s purest and most original self.

 

Hadaka Matsuri as a Ritual of “Substituting Misfortune”

Another important aspect of the Hadaka Matsuri is its connection to the Japanese belief in substituting misfortune.

 

Since ancient times, there has been a widespread tradition in Japan of transferring bad luck to another object or person to avoid misfortune. This can be seen in customs such as throwing beans at people of unlucky ages (yakudoshi) or using paper dolls (hitogata) to absorb misfortunes before setting them afloat in rivers.

 

In the Hadaka Matsuri, the participants voluntarily take on this role, absorbing and expelling the misfortunes of their community through their intense physical engagement in the ritual. By offering their own bodies in devotion, they purify the entire region’s collective hardships, allowing for a fresh and prosperous new year.

 

Entrusting oneself to the divine, they bear the burdens of misfortune, undergo purification, and emerge renewed.

 

Famous Hadaka Matsuri Across Japan

 

Various Hadaka Matsuri are held throughout Japan, each with its own distinct history and traditions. Here are three of the most famous ones:

 

1. Saidaiji Eyo (Okayama) – Battling for Fortune

Recognized as one of Japan’s Three Great Strange Festivals, Saidaiji Eyo in Okayama City has been a sacred tradition for over 500 years.

 

Held on the third Saturday of February, thousands of men, wearing only fundoshi, gather at Saidaiji Temple. As midnight approaches, sacred shingi (wooden talismans) are thrown from the temple’s main hall into the sea of eager participants.

The chaos that follows is both electrifying and sacred. Men wrestle and struggle, desperate to claim the shingi, for it is believed that the one who possesses it will be blessed with a year of great fortune and prosperity as the honored “Fuku-otoko” (Lucky Man).

 

The festival reaches its peak as the men’s fervent shouts echo through the night, turning the temple grounds into what seems like a battlefield. Yet, beneath the physical struggle lies something deeper—a test of resolve, a confrontation with the divine, and a ritual charged with spiritual intensity.

 

【Hadaka Matsuri” (Naked Festival) Draws 10,000 Men at Saidaiji Eyo Festival】

 

2. Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Aichi) – Entrusting Misfortunes to the “Divine Man”

Held at Owari Okunitama Shrine (Konomiya Shrine) in Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture, the Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri is a sacred ritual with over a thousand years of history, centered around Shin-otoko (the Divine Man).

 

The Shin-otoko is a man chosen through rigorous purification rites and is tasked with a significant role—absorbing the misfortunes of the local community.

 

On the day of the festival, thousands of men chase after him, desperate to touch him, believing that by doing so, their own misfortunes will be transferred to him.

Bearing the collective burdens of the community, the Shin-otoko then runs towards the shrine, where the misfortunes are finally dispelled in a sacred rite. Until that moment, the intense energy of the crowd surges without pause.

 

Even today, this ritual of touching to purify remains a powerful expression of communal faith and tradition.

 

3. Miyajidake Shrine Hadaka Matsuri (Fukuoka) – A Procession of Fiery Spirits

At Miyajidake Shrine in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, a Hadaka Matsuri takes place around the Lunar New Year (February).

 

During the festival, men clad in fundoshi carry portable shrines (mikoshi) through the sacred grounds, chanting in unison as they endure the biting cold. Their breath turns to mist, their bodies radiate heat, and their fervor creates an almost otherworldly atmosphere.

 

Miyajidake Shrine is also renowned for its “Path of Light”, where, during the festival season, the setting sun aligns perfectly with the shrine’s approach, bathing the entire area in golden light. The combination of the fiery procession and this celestial phenomenon heightens the festival’s mystical allure.

 

 

The Future of Hadaka Matsuri – Preserving Tradition

 

The Hadaka Matsuri is more than just an eye-catching spectacle; it is a profound reflection of Japanese spirituality, faith, and communal bonds.

 

However, in recent years, these festivals have faced numerous challenges, including a decline in participants due to an aging population, shifting cultural perceptions about nudity, and increasing concerns over safety. Some Hadaka Matsuri have already faded into history.

Yet, efforts are being made to adapt and preserve these traditions in new ways, ensuring that their spiritual significance continues to thrive.

 

More than just a cultural attraction, the Hadaka Matsuri represents the enduring Japanese values of purification, warding off misfortune, and community solidarity.

 

In the midst of winter’s chill, as bare bodies collide in a passionate display of faith, we are reminded of something deeply fundamental—the strength of the human spirit.

 

May this sacred tradition continue to be passed down for generations to come.