Mud festival › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

Thursday 26th February, 07:48 AM JST

Men carry babies in a muddy rice paddy during a mud festival at Mimusubi shrine in Yotsukaido, east of Tokyo, on Wednesday. The ritual is believed to bring a good harvest and good health for babies.

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Latest 15 of 26 Total Comments Show All

papasmurfinjapan at 10:24 AM JST - 26th February

I'm all for upholding tradition, but when it jeopardises the safety of a forced (and probably in many cases, fairly reluctant) participant, I have to question whether it is a ritual worthy of continuation.

I suppose one consolation is, at least the kids aren't stripped naked as well.
the_harper at 10:32 AM JST - 26th February

Good grief! Is there really such a life-threatening risk to any of these kids? I'm sure all the men involved are taking as much care as they possibly can. There's other matsuri that have a much higher risk of injury (although admittedly not of babies). I went to the Spring festival in Kashima and was fascinated that even the participants can't explain fully what it all meant. It's just something they've done every spring for 2000 years.
Disillusioned at 11:02 AM JST - 26th February

It brings good health for babies as long as one of those jokers in nappies doesn't drop the kid in the mud and fill it's lungs with pesticide laidened mud, of course!
papasmurfinjapan at 11:14 AM JST - 26th February

There's other matsuri that have a much higher risk of injury (although admittedly not of babies)

And that is where the objections arise. I'm all for jumping around in mud half naked, or pushing and shoving other half-naked men to grab a piece of wood, or being chased by bulls, or nailing myself to a cross etc. Each culture has their own traditions that are in many ways masochistic. Only when we are purged do we become cleansed, no?

But including babies in the ritual exposes them to unnecessary risks. Perhaps not life-threatening ones, but a 1.5m fall into shallow mud with only God knows what in it is probably not in the child's best interests.
LoveUSA at 11:14 AM JST - 26th February

It is interesting why only men perform the ritual. Nice photo.
dennis0bauer at 12:08 PM JST - 26th February

A lot of mudslinging in this topic
1trickster at 12:11 PM JST - 26th February

indiboy, you are a tool
tmarie at 12:37 PM JST - 26th February

Good god! Half the posters go on and on about men never helping with the kids... always working... Here is a case where this is not true and folks are screaming child abuse???
natosucks at 01:08 PM JST - 26th February

sexy back he,he...nice omoshiroi festival...
herefornow at 01:28 PM JST - 26th February

tmarie -- actually agree with you on this one. Japanese men actually spending time with their kids in the name of preserving the culture, to me, is a good thing. Is this any different/worse than all those little boys forced to wear shorts all winter long because that is the uniform for their fancy private school? Cut these guys some slack.
zaichik at 01:53 PM JST - 26th February

Oh for crying out loud, people! Bordering on child abuse indeed! Lighten up! Yours (with a few exceptions) are the sort of attitudes that would put paid to daft but fundamentally harmless traditions like cheese rolling in the UK, in the name of health and safety.

It's just another one of those eccentric festivals that make Japan the bizarre, endlessly entertaining country that it is. Surely you wouldn't have moved to Japan if it was like everywhere else?
papasmurfinjapan at 02:31 PM JST - 26th February

cheese rolling in the UK

Yes, that should be banned too. It encourages bad health.

I'm all for dwarf tossing though.

Moderator: Back on topic please.
johancohen at 02:48 PM JST - 26th February

oh my lord, what is this? men in diapers?!
zoechan at 12:26 AM JST - 28th February

i love this picture - fathers participating in such an old tradition with their beloved babies. this is so far away from bordering on child abuse - yes health and safety is a huge consideration, however, what is better: a father spending time with his child (whilst wearing a nappy himself admittedly) and simultaneously blessing said child with good health, or the father who is too busy/scared/indifferent to even take his child to observe this festival?
OhioDonna at 10:16 AM JST - 3rd March

Am I the only one who thinks this is just a little bizarre? I must show my friends this photo because if I don’t think they would not believe me if I just told them about this. Is this a local traditon?