Japan’s “Hadaka Matsuri” Festival Falls Victim to Changing Demographics
Ōshū, Japan —
Steam rose as hundreds of naked men tussled over a bag of wooden talismans, performing a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual in Japan that took place for the last time.
Their fervent shouts of “Jasso, joyasa” (which translates to “Evil, be gone”) resounded throughout a cedar forest in the northern Iwate region of Japan. The Kokuseki Temple, situated in a secluded area, has chosen to discontinue the widely-attended yearly ritual.
The responsibility of hosting the event, which attracts numerous attendees and visitors annually, has become a challenging task for the elderly members of the community who struggle to meet the demands of the ceremony.
On February 17, 2024, men in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, get ready to purify themselves in a river as part of the Sominsai Festival held at Kokuseki-ji Temple.
The “Sominsai” festival, regarded as one of the strangest festivals in Japan, is the latest tradition impacted by the country’s aging population crisis that has hit rural communities hard.
Daigo Fujinami, a monk who has resided in the temple since its establishment in 729, expressed the challenges of coordinating a festival of this magnitude.
According to him, the current situation is full of energy and crowds due to the large number of people present. However, there are also numerous behind-the-scenes customs and tasks that must be completed.
I am unable to ignore the challenging truth.
Aging population
According to the Future of Jobs Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum, over 10% of Japan’s population is 80 years old or older, and nearly 1/3 is over the age of 65.
Due to the aging of Japan’s population, numerous schools, shops, and services have been forced to shut down, particularly in smaller or rural areas.
Previously, the Sominsai festival at Kokuseki Temple occurred from the seventh day of the Lunar New Year until the next morning.
However, due to the Covid pandemic, it was reduced to prayer services and smaller rites.
According to local residents, the last festival was a condensed event that concluded at approximately 11 p.m. However, it attracted the largest audience in recent history.
At sunset, a group of men wearing white loincloths arrived at the mountain temple. They then bathed in a nearby creek and proceeded to walk around the temple grounds.
On February 17, 2024, men participate in the Sominsai Festival at Kokuseki-ji Temple in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan by purifying themselves in a river.
They tightly squeezed their hands to ward off the cold winter air, all the while repeating “Jasso, joyasa.”
Several individuals carried small cameras to capture their experience, and numerous television crews trailed behind the men as they navigated the temple’s stone steps and dirt paths.
At the peak of the festival, numerous men crowded into the wooden temple, loudly shouting and chanting while aggressively competing for a bag of talismans.
On February 17, 2024, in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, individuals participate in the Sominsai Festival at Kokuseki-ji Temple by carrying lanterns and going to a river to purify themselves.
Changing norms
A resident of the area, Toshiaki Kikuchi, who has been involved in organizing the festival for many years, expressed his wish for the ritual to continue in the future.
“I aim to continue this tradition, even if it means changing its format,” he stated. “Participation is key in truly appreciating all that it has to offer.”
Numerous attendees and guests expressed a mixture of emotions, including sadness and comprehension, regarding the conclusion of the festival.
Yasuo Nishimura, a 49-year-old caregiver from Osaka, expressed his desire to join in the festivities on its 1,000th and final year. He shared with AFP his sentiments towards the long-standing festival.
In various other temples throughout Japan, similar festivals are held where men don loincloths and take part in activities such as bathing in icy water or competing for talismans.
On February 17, 2024, at Kokuseki-ji Temple in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, there is a frenzy among men to obtain the “Somin-Bukuro” bag during the Sominsai Festival.
Certain festivals are modifying their regulations to align with evolving demographics and societal expectations in order to sustain their existence. This may include allowing women to participate in ceremonies that were previously restricted to men.
Beginning in the upcoming year, Kokuseki Temple will substitute the festival with prayer services and other methods to maintain its spiritual rituals.
According to Nishimura, Japan is currently dealing with a declining birth rate, growing elderly population, and shortage of young individuals to carry on different tasks. It may prove challenging to maintain the same approach as before.
On February 17, 2024, during the Sominsai Festival at Kokuseki-ji Temple in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, embers from a bonfire can be seen floating in the air.
Source: voanews.com
