Japan’s Pink Penis Parade, aka the Kanamara Matsuri [NSFW]
At first glance, you might think it’s just a penis parade, what the huge pink penis being tugged across the street. But it is in fact the Kanamara Matsuri, an ancient Shinto festival designed to honor fertility, prevent STDs, and raise money for HIV research.
![Kanamara Matsuri Japans Pink Penis Parade, aka the Kanamara Matsuri [NSFW] picture](http://www.weirdasianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Kanamara_Matsuri.jpg "Kanamara Matsuri photo")
The Kanamara Matsuri, which translates to “Big Iron Penis Lord,” is celebrated during the first week of April in Kawasaki, Japan. The event concludes on the first Sunday of April, which this year ironically coincided with the Christian holiday of Easter. So while many Westerners celebrated by eating chocolate eggs and chasing bunny rabbits on April 3rd, the Japanese paraded through town with a big, giant penis.
The festival, which has been held since the 1600s, centers around the legend of a demon that, according to Wikipedia, “hid inside the vagina of a young girl and castrated two young men on their wedding nights.” In retaliation, the young damsel sought the assistance of a blacksmith, who in turn built an iron penis to combat the demon.
This led the Shinto people—Shinto is a form of spirituality practiced by over 90% of Japan’s citizens—to build a giant penis shrine that prostitutes would visit to seek protection from STDs. In due time, the shrine became portable and thus a festival was borne.
Nowadays, the Kanamara Matsuri festival features a plethora of penis-related items like penis-shaped candies, penis-shaped candles, penis-shaped food, and even a gigantic penis-shaped wooden battering ram that also serves as a great sitting spot for hot nurses.
![PenisLollyPopCandy Japans Pink Penis Parade, aka the Kanamara Matsuri [NSFW] picture](http://www.weirdasianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/PenisLollyPopCandy.jpg "PenisLollyPopCandy photo")
![PenisFood Japans Pink Penis Parade, aka the Kanamara Matsuri [NSFW] picture](http://www.weirdasianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/PenisFood.jpg "PenisFood photo")
![WoodenPenis Japans Pink Penis Parade, aka the Kanamara Matsuri [NSFW] picture](http://www.weirdasianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/WoodenPenis.jpg "WoodenPenis photo")
Plus the festival has recently gained strong international appeal, as many tourists tend to gravitate toward it. “In general, traditional Japanese festivals are not very accessible to foreigners, but this one is different,” said head priestess Kimiko Nakamura, during an interview with Reuters in April 2008.
Many tourists even find the Kanamara Matsuri festival rather impressive, in that it’s quite a liberal feat to haul a penis through the ‘Main Street’ of an Asian country, let alone any country. “You wouldn’t find a festival like this in the UK,” said Angela Wheaton. “Maybe in secret somewhere, but nothing like this.”
Feel free to watch a portion of the 2010 festival below. Make sure to keep an eye out for the gigantic moving penis.
By V Saxena on 18-04-2010
![Flip Hole: Japan Takes Age-Old Problem in Hand [NSFW]:](http://www.weirdasianews.com/wp-content/thumbnails/75592b2ae4ffbe29204ae77cbc0f2f42_140x90.jpg)
Comment by Anonymous :)
April 18th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Wow Japan!!
you never fail to disappoint me.
Comment by MOMO
April 20th, 2010 at 10:51 am
!(｀ﾛ´;)I,m Jpanese But I don,t Know Kanamara Maturi.
I think Many japanese don,t know Kanamara Maturi.
Comment by Opus
April 21st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I've lived in Japan for 3 years and to say that this disappoints you only demonstrates western ignorance of other cultures. Is it any weirder than singing "Take me out to the ballgame" in the 7th inning or having Turkey on Thanksgiving? What about dressing in Pagan costumes and demanding candy in return? If it's the religious aspect of it then let me simply say, "He who is without sin cast the first stone" and then look at your own life. In fact, it makes me wonder why you even look at stuff like this if it only disappoints you. I digress. After all, you are entitled to your own opinion and freedom of speech. Another of those silly customs in America.
Comment by JohnnySwingnutz
April 21st, 2010 at 3:39 pm
STFU you rubberhead. Never failing to be disappointed is a good thing and a sign of appreciation.
Comment by Anonymous
April 21st, 2010 at 4:00 pm
"You never disappoint me" would be a good thing. "You never fail" would be a good thing. "You never fail to disappoint me" means "you always disappoint me," which is a bad thing.
That said, I don't know any Americans aware of this festival that think it's anything less than awesome.
Comment by Toink
April 28th, 2010 at 12:07 am
No moron, when you say you "never fail to disappoint me" it means that the subject in the statement, like you said, DISAPPOINTS you. Fucking retard. If you rephrased it to "You never fail to impress me" it would be positive. There's a universal human right we need to claim during the right moments, it's called an education. Try it sometimes.
Comment by Opus
April 29th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Again, ignorance, JohnnySwingnutz. Try an English class while you're at it. Appreciation? Really. I now understand why our society is the way it is a little bit better. You come to this site to read the obscure traditions of asia and then mock them. If anyone should be disappointed, it should be those who take the time to post such interesting, yet little known facts, only to have the likes of you post such drivel. Do yourself a favor, stick to surfing porn. No education required.
Comment by dan
May 4th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
うんうん、これ何か・・きもいじゃないのか？
Comment by anomamous
June 4th, 2010 at 3:12 am
I'm pretty sure it was a typo, the guy got confused, meant to ay something along the line of Never fail to impress
C'mon guys give him a break, just a little mistake, not a big deal
Comment by wow33
July 31st, 2010 at 8:23 am
im american i find nothing wrong with it its their culture so just relax