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Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus)

babibubebo | 7 04 2008


the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

Chalk this up in the category of bizarre Japan. This weekend I had the chance to go to Kanamara Matsuri, commonly referred to by foreigners as “The Penis Festival.” Every year Kanamara Shrine holds this festival on the 1st Sunday in April in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. According to Wikipedia:

The Kanamara Matsuri is centered around a local penis-venerating shrine, once popular among prostitutes who wished to pray for protection against sexually transmitted diseases. It is said that there are divine protections also in business prosperity and the clan’s prosperity, easy delivery, marriage, and married couple harmony, etc. Today, the festival is used to raise money for HIV research. There’s also a legend of a demon that hid inside a young girl and castrated two young men on their wedding nights before a blacksmith fashioned an iron phallus that was used to break the demon’s teeth, leading to the enshrinement of the item.

Metropolis had this to say in their article about Kanamara Matsuri:

Today, the highlights of this saucy festival include transvestites parading through the town’s streets carrying a mikoshi (portable shrine) with a humongous pink phallus on top. And, if that’s not guaranteed to make you blush as deeply as the surrounding cherry blossoms, then the spectacle of grandmas and grandpas sucking on carnal candy and sweetmeat replicas of this stupendous phallus, is more than likely to. Other attractions include locals carving penises out of daikon (radish), children and young women sitting astride penis-shaped seesaws for good luck and fertility blessings, as well as a seated banquet in the compound of Kanamara Jinja (aka Wakamiya Hachiman-gu shrine) where the phallic radishes are auctioned.

As you might expect, because of the nature of this festival, the photos and videos I have are probably not safe for work (NSFW), but neither are they x-rated. The photos and videos from Kanamara Matsuri are not for everyone; however, they are somewhat interesting, sometimes surprising, usually inappropriate and definitely bizarre. If this sounds like something that would interest you, then continue on at your own risk to see the photos and a movie.

I have been in Japan for more than 3 years now and I am very rarely surprised by much of anything anymore…That being said, I was surprised about a couple things at this festival…

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

I thought a lot of people would be somewhat shy around the giant phallus, but it pretty much the opposite. I was really surprised how people were not only posing but holding their poses and waiting for everyone to take photos! Some people would even do a couple different poses, turn to one side, then turn to the other.

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan


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the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

And I mean it is not like it isn’t obvious that EVERYONE is either taking photos and/or videos of them. See for yourself.

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

The other thing that surprised me was how many people brought young children and made it a family event. A lot of families seem fine with their young sons or daughters sucking on a lollipop shaped like a penis or having the children pose with the big phallus. I mean, really? You think that even though everyone obviously is taking photos that they will not take your photo or is it that you just don’t care?

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t consider myself conservative by any means and I was not offended, embarrassed, or uncomfortable to be at the penis festival, but just knowing that my mom and dad read my website from time to time makes me somewhat uncomfortable posting about Kanamara Matsuri! I am not sure I would like to go to this festival with my parents and if I had kids, if I were to bring them, I seriously doubt I would let them suck a penis or vagina shaped lollipop with so many people/photographers around. Especially in Japan where everyone has a cellphone, and every cellphone can take photos and/or videos. I mean, REALLY? These people don’t mind? This isn’t an awkward situation?

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

Anyway, there are two main parts to the penis festival, the parade and the events at the shrine. The parade is fairly short and participants carry around 3 portable shrines. A big steel phallus, a big pink phallus (carried by transvestites) and a wooden one.

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

The shrine is where most of these photos are from and maybe you can get a good idea of what goes on there. In addition to posing with penis you can, carve a penis (or vagina) from a large radish, eat food shaped like a penis (or vagina), walk over a relatively small penis or buy numerous things shaped like a penis (or vagina), all presumably for good luck with being fertile and protection from HIV and other STDs.

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan


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the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

Now this guy has the right idea.

the penis festival kanamara matsuri kawasaki japan

If you want to see more, there are a lot more photos of the penis festival in my gallery. The password is “i am mature” with NO spaces and NO quotations. Below is a video. If you cannot see it, here it is in google video.



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Categories
Festivals, Mature Only
Tags
April, Bizarre Festival, Cherry Blossoms, Festivals, japan, Kanagawa, kanamara matsuri, Kawasaki, Matsuri, NSFW, parade, penis festival, phallic, phallus, Shrines, Strange Japan, transvestites, Video
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« And the winner is… Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossoms »

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  • http://www.michaelmckinlay.com Mike

    This is why Japan rules, and why all other countries suck! :) Except Canada and a few other places. :)

  • http://babibubebo.com babibubebo

    Haha, well all countries have things that are good and bad, including Japan… That being said, this probably is part of the good side of Japan! :-)

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  • http://www.nihongojouzu.com Will

    Great photos and information, I just don’t get why you would feel so uncomfortable about being seen in the presence of penis replicas. If the festival involved exposing your own penis to the world I could understand, because this would involve making a very private part of you public, but what’s the big deal about a wooden phallus? It is representative of part of the human body, and a very important part – without which your parents would not have been able to conceive you – what is there to be embarrassed or shy about? Indeed, the most attractive feature of your photos is that they show people having a good time and enjoying themselves in the presence of penises – and why not – after all, as anyone who has one or has regular contact with one, they can be a lot of fun!

  • http://www.t-enami.org/ Rob

    God Bless Japan.

  • http://www.custombobble.com Janes Smith

    This website http://www.custombobble.com can create yourself + a a penis replicas side by side…. LOL

  • http://babibubebo.com babibubebo

    @ Will, I understand what you are saying and really and if it were just posing next to them and celebrating the penis then I would probably be ok with it; however, it is not just posing with them, it is posing with them in very suggestive ways. I mean, what parent would like to see their child sucking on a penis shaped lollipop (or vice versa) and posing for a bunch of photographers. I am not against this festival or celebrating life and the importance of reproduction, but I am saying I would feel more comfortable going with my friends rather than with my family….

  • Shorel

    Oh no sex is bad!
    Let’s nuke them again!

    Seriously, in some Asian countries (not China) population is not growing, and sex is obviously the way to increase population.

    I can only think that they have a much healthier view of sex than any of us western people.

    We seem to do a lot of sex and flatulence jokes because, face it, we live feeling shame of our bodies and biological process.

    They don’t seem to see anything wrong with the fact that people have penises and vaginas, and they are right!

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  • http://opendirectoryproject.co.uk/ Mikey

    thanks for this

  • http://www.cmimages.com David

    waw, very nice pics fof very creative event. No festival like this in my country.

  • http://babibubebo.com babibubebo

    Haha, yeah, “creative” is a nice way to describe it!

  • http://www.chirinka.com Hania Trzaskowski

    Overall, societies that have good sex education have lower rates of teenage pregnancy and more awareness about pregnancy, HIV, and other STD’s. Simply put – if you expose your children even at a young age that body parts are to be CELEBRATED, and RESPECTED and HONORED rather than SHAMED – they are more likely to approach sex in their own lives with more fun yet also reverence and respect.
    In many older societies, girls would be married and or pregnant by age 14 or 15. These days, it’s hard to find a 10 year old kid who doesnt know what sex is – however – many of these kids will have obscure back-door information from friends and peers that include many mytghs about it.
    In tribal societies, often kids know from a very young age that it’s something that adults do, considering they are often sleeping in the same hut at the same time of it occuring@ We may think that’s disgusting and weird, but kids aren’t going to get away doing it when they sleep under the same room either every night. They would think us weird for hiding in the shadows about it all. This is more a choice of personal ethics and morals, and just like others can’t push our morals onto us, we cannot push our values, ethics and morals onto any other person or society.
    Kids should be encouraged to ask questions, to be exposed to know what sex is and what it is all about – after all – awareness is the biggest key in prevention of unwanted pregnancies and STD’s – so in essence – the festival DOES increase fertility and reduce risk of infection – by providing a forum for people to LEARN.

    Just the other day I was checking out a kids game website for my nieces. I found a predator in the chat room – caught red handed and I reported him. What I really liked is the fact that a 10 year old and a 12 year old on there at the time were well educated by their parents about sex, about predators, and about online etiquette, what to watch out for…. if they were left in the dark, perhaps these kids would have been gullible enough to be taken in by a pedophile.

    Protect your children – expose them to awareness about sex and what it is and why people do it.

  • http://MNS.Com Daniela

    isint that wierd????

    it is to me a little bit and ?????why would you have a penis Festivle?????

    But Its Still !COOL! I’v never seen a festivle like that….. In two years im going to get to go to japan i hope that when Im their that the festivle will be goin on at that time…

    !!!JAPAN RULES!!!

  • babylu

    It’s very surprise.

  • http://www.jitujg2003@yahoo,co,in jeetug

  • http://intocloudseternity.blogspot.com akihiro

    very hot and very fun. japan totally rocks

  • Duane

    Western values are indeed strange. When we see people undressed, celebrating the human form, or openly discussing sex we consider it lewd and try to censor or prohibit the act. However, when we see women and men completely covered as in certain religous sects around the world, we go to war and kill for their freedom to uncover themselves.

  • http://www.kolalo.com/hotels/japan/ Miumiu

    Hahaha, that’s incredible, SO impressive!

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  • ПИДОР

    бля……
    пиздец…..
    хулисосы!..

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  • gfb6

    puahaa… :D gslilere yedircen bunları :D :D

  • http://www.priceless.com Alan Price

    “Dick Day”

    It’s all cool really, it’s a Japanese National Tradition celebrated in a festive-fashion.
    (Now with a ‘western-twist’ involving super-perversity’ -> in your own opinions)

    The celebration is perfectly fine, the people have simply opened-up.
    Compare these ‘antics’ with ‘brits-abroad’ – what do you think?

    What springs to mind!
    “….in celebration of your member….”
    “…members only….”
    “…penis pooja…”

  • A Muslim

    Well …. I read all the posts … Eastern and western views

    I am not going into the details of this festival origin or its purpose

    I just want to tell you people that ALLAH who is the creator of humans dislike to expose our body
    You people will say Why? its natural

    My answer is that just check the ultimate results ….consider the social structure of your societies … rapidly declining in moral values

    but we are rich in this areas …
    there is some value of GOD sayings … we just obey GOD … if GOD commended us not to expose your hidden parts then we should try to understand it …. should not develop our own designs for these matters..

  • to the guy above me

    keep it to yourself. No one cares. its about culture and respecting the cultures and values and RELIGIONS of other countries and how some are…odd x) in some peoples opinions. but never wrong. and by PUSHING your damn religion in peoples faces it says to me you dont give a damn about what anyone else thinks only what you and YOUR god think. だからうるせえお前! -。-; 

    ところでカナマラ祭りはめちゃ面白いんだよ xD 行った事は無いけど。 ^^

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  • Pingback: Je vous laisse je vais au festival du pénis… | BESTBUZZ, la référence

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  • http://tokyodv.com/videolog/t-o-k-y-o-d-v-v-i-d-e-o-n-u-g-g-e-t-s/japan-fertility-festival/ Japan Fertility Festival Video

    OH YEAH! This festival is AWESOME! Check out the video we made a few years ago in the above link.

    I LOVE JAPAN! :O)

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  • Rolly

    “Chalk this up in the category of bizarre Japan.”

    It’s not Japan that’s bizarre; it’s the life denying Pauline “morality” of the Western world that’s weird.

    The various christian religions have had a detrimental effect on social cohesiveness and human development for more than 2,000 years.

    A change of attitude is well overdue.

  • Anjelica

    HAHAHA! All the years I have heard of Japan and read about Japan and looked upon Japanese culture I have never in my life thought of a festival of the penis!
    The vaginal shaped buns and penis lollipops were a bit too much to handle, I couldn’t stop laughing until I saw the young girl with a hand above her head from a guy that looks like her father sucking on a penis sucker.. poor little girl, poor children.

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  • http://www.muonlinela.com.ve/ MuOnline

    ohhh very good ,that pictures so impressive and beautiful, I love love japan I hope to see someday festivals

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  • http://osilayers.org osi layers

    still enjoy this festival, wait next year.

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  • Anonymous

    I agree with your idea,Moncler Jackets uk and Christian Louboutin Cheap are very famous as well as Discount Louis Vuitton Bags in the fashion world.

  • Baroda1234

    If the muslims are so perfect, how come they go to Bombay, India and Phillipines to have sex with prostitutes. Christian religion never teaches or advocates outrageous sexual behaviour. The free press and the liberal media promotes it. No religion in the world advocates any kind of sexual perversions. However, it is the people who profess to be practicing it makes a bad name for their religion. In Muslim countries women are treated a second class citizens, having many wives and lot more children. Muhammad had 23 wives and Christ had none and He kept his life clean and practiced self control. He is the true model for us

  • Fwkk7670

    There is no embarrassment for the whole family because everyone understands the context and the “spirit” of the matsuri, and that participation is understood to confer the spiritual benefits of fertility, prosperity, etc.

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