Changes to the Naked Man Festival... which I MIGHT be attending?!

Well, I wasn't planning on attending the Okayama Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival) this year, even though seeing thousands of loin-cloth-clad men literally fighting over sticks in a giant temple all through the rainy night WAS an awesome experience last year... but now it looks like I might be going after-all.  

A lot of people are going and I am starting to think it might be a fun weekend out of town, festival or no festival.  My friend Hong (the girl that came last weekend) wants to come back for the event, and it's not that far away or expensive.  If it doesn't rain, it could be better than last year, too, so I'd be willing to give it a shot.  Oh, and there's maybe someone I'd be willing to go cheer on if he's really doing it (?), but we'll see...

On the topic of the HADAKA Matsuri, though, they changed the rules for runners this year in what I thought was an interesting twist.  You might find the new rules (below) culturally intriguing, as tattoos are considered bad and often associated with the yakuza (mafia) in Japan.  Some hot springs and gyms won't let you in if you have them, but being that strict is somewhat old fashioned and I have heard most places are OK if you just cover them up.

NEW RULES from some people in Okayama Prefecture organizing a group for the run (OAJET):

There are new rules for runners at this year's Naked Man. No one with a tattoo will be allowed to run.

Here is the quote from the temple itself:

2. No tattoos, no jika-tabi socks, no tobi-tabi socks

o The participants who are tattooed and/or wearing

jika-tabi/tobi-tabi will be removed before entering the site.

o Not allowed to participate in the festival even if you

cover the tattoos with clothes, tapes, cosmetics and/or any other stuff.

o Tattooed participants will not be qualified as fukuotokos

(lucky man) even if they get shingi sticks. The shingi sticks will be

forfeited.

In the past, covered tattoos have been tolerated, but this year looks

to be different. If you have reserved to be a runner but have a tattoo

please contact us immediately. If you know a potential runner, please

pass this information along.