Japan’s annual ‘Naked Man Festival’ turned chaotic this year, leaving six participants hospitalized, including three who were knocked unconscious.
The Hadaka Matsuri, held every year on the third Saturday of February in Okayama City, draws thousands of men competing for good fortune. The tradition dates back to the Muromachi period (1336–1573), making it centuries old.
Participants wear only white mawashi (loincloths) and white tabi socks before gathering in a tightly packed crowd inside the shrine. Sacred sticks believed to bring luck are thrown into the mass of people, sparking intense pushing and grappling as men struggle to claim them — a scramble that often leads to injuries.
This year, about 10,000 men took part, hoping to be named the “fuku-otoko,” or lucky man. According to reports from NHK, six were hospitalized amid the crush, with three losing consciousness. Organizers believe the injuries likely occurred after the lights were turned off and the sacred sticks were cast into the crowd.
The Japan Times reported that three of the injured suffered non-life-threatening injuries. While the exact circumstances remain unclear, injuries are not unusual at the festival. In 2007, one participant died during the event, and some observers have raised concerns about the tradition’s future as Japan’s population continues to age.