Hadaka Matsuri

Hayama-gomori at Kuronuma Shrine, district of Kanezawa, Fukushima, held for three days starting around 16 November but varying with the lunar calendar, is a secret ceremony that has taken place for over a thousand years, in which omens from the gods are bestowed on humans, that is considered off-limits to visitors, but there are no restrictions on viewing the ta-asobi portion. ==Konomiya==

One of the biggest and oldest Hadaka Matsuris is the Owari Ōkunitama Shrine Hadaka Matsuri held in Inazawa, where the festival originated over 1300 years ago. Every year, people participate in this festival in hopes of gaining luck for the entire year. The most famous part of the festival is when the shin-otoko (神男) enters the stage and has to find a way back to the shrine, called naoiden. The participatants must try and touch the shin-otoko to transfer their bad luck. During the nighttime ceremony, all the bad luck is transferred in a charcoal colored giant mochi. The black mochi is made with rice mixed with the ashes of the burned from last year. The mochi is then buried in a secret location in the nearby forest. Women took part in the festival for the first time on 22 February 2024, with a group of 41 clothed women having a minor role. ==Saidaiji==

The most famous festival is the Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri held in Okayama, where the festival originated over 500 years ago. Every year, over 9,000 men participate in this festival in hopes of gaining luck for the entire year. On the 3rd Saturday in February, for the past 500 years, the Saidaiji Temple near Okayama city has celebrated Hadaka Matsuri. ==Others==

Shitennoji Temple at Tennoji, Osaka, Doya Doya Hadaka Matsuri (Naked) Festival is a ceremony in which two groups of young men compete for an amulet of the cow god Gyu-o-Hoin, attached to the central pillar, screaming "Doya! Doya!". Every third weekend of September, for Ohara Hadaka Matsuri in Ohara, Chiba Prefecture, bearers of mikoshi, mostly dressed in a simple loincloth, and spectators pray for big harvests and good fishing. The Somin Shōrai legend is the inspiration for the Somin Festival (蘇民祭 Somin-sai) held in various places within Iwate Prefecture, the most famous of which being the one held every February at Kokuseki-ji Temple in Ōshū City. In this festival, hundreds of half-naked men compete to grab the 'Somin bag' (蘇民袋 Somin-bukuro), which is said to bring good fortune. ==See also==