Urasa Naked Festival

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Naked Festival at Temple Fukoo-Ji

***** Location: Niigata, Japan
***** Season: Mid-Spring
***** Category: Observance

*****************************
Explanation

Urasa Naked Man Festival, Urasa no Doo Oshi
浦佐の堂押し (うらさのどうおし)

"naked pushing" hadaka oshi 裸押し (はだかおし）
"pushing festival", 押合祭（おしあいまつり）

at the Hall Bishamondo 毘沙門堂 at Temple Fuko-Ji (Fukoo-Ji 普光寺), Urasa, Niigata pref.



During this old ceremony, some 300 to 500 young men dressed in white loincloth purify their bodies by pouring cold water on themselves. Then they jostle each other briskly in a ceremony to bring about a good harvest. It starts at 8 pm and lasts late into the night.
The men from the village are between 18 and 29 years.

During the preparations for this purification ceremony, they are not allowed to eat things with two or four legs (pig, chicken etc.) and must abstain to see their girlfriends. The wifes have to go back to their own family during these days.
During the pushing and shuffling the men get quite hot despite the cold season. They can jump into a large stone basin to cool down.


Others use a simple instrument made from bamboo, sasara 簓 , to make a noise which is said a speciality of Bishamonten. When the sasara turns inside, it is a bad omen, if it turns outside, it is a good omen.

The ceremonies end on March 3, sangetsu mikka 三月三日（サンゲツ・ミッカ）.
Urasa Hatakaoshiai Matsuri


Click for more photos !

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Two old prints from the festival




© ..oshiaihokuetu.html

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

This temple is also famous for a statue of Fudo Myo-O in the cliff.
This is said to be the largest of its kind in Japan.


© PHOTO : 街　点描


Magaibutsu and Fudo Myo-O: 磨崖仏
Daruma Museum

*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


The God Bishamon-Ten . 毘沙門天
Daruma Museum


*****************************
HAIKU

水掛けて湯気立ちのぼる裸押し
mizu kakete yuge tachi noboru hadaka oshi

throwing water at each other
steam rises up ...
naked pushing
Tr. Gabi Greve

©　Ki no Mama .. 気ままの記

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


*****************************
Related words

***** Naked Festivals of Japan

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::