After 1,250 years women join Japan’s (nearly) naked festival

For the first time in its 1,250-year history, women have been allowed to participate in a Japanese festival that sees thousands of nearly naked men take part in a ritual to cleanse their sins.

The “Hadaka Matsuri” festival, which is held on the third Saturday of February in Okayama, involves participants wearing only loincloths as they compete to grab lucky talismans thrown into the crowd by a priest.

Traditionally, only men have been allowed to take part in the event, but this year, organizers decided to open it up to women following calls for greater gender equality.

Women who wanted to participate had to undergo a strict vetting process and were only allowed to join the men in the final stages of the ritual. Despite the restrictions, many women welcomed the opportunity to take part in the historic event.

The decision to allow women to join the festival is seen as a step towards greater gender equality in Japan, where women still face discrimination in many areas of society. It is hoped that the change will pave the way for more inclusive traditions and events in the future.

Overall, the inclusion of women in the Hadaka Matsuri festival marks a significant milestone in Japan’s cultural history and represents a positive step towards a more inclusive and equal society.