Feb. 25
Hadaka Matsuri
Hadaka Matsuri (literally, naked festival) at Mimusubi Shrine, Yotsukaido, Chiba Pref., from around 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Local young men in loincloths hold infants in their arms, step into the sacred muddy rice paddy and put a pinch of mud on the infants’ faces. It is believed to protect the babies from harm. Then the young men play cavalry in the muddy rice paddy in prayer for a good harvest this year.
Festival website
Access: The JR Sobu Line to Yotsukaido Station (South Exit), and then walk 15 minutes.
JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY & FOLKLORE 