It’s a Japanese religious event with deep roots, the festival starts with a blessing to the participants and the phallus mikoshi from the Kanayama shrine priest, the Kanamara festival can seem silly on the surface but knowing its history through social norms and culture is the key.
The festival is flooded with tourists and residents the atmosphere of the festival is like being in a massive street party although one of the most famous Japanese festivals worldwide, you might be surprised to know it is mostly unknown inside japan “ignored by the local media”.
Let me just give you a tip if you want to go to the shrine in the morning before the procession begin, at least you have to be there 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning or if you have patient just go late and wait in the queue shrine for 4 hours or more just to see some penises in the shrine .
HISTORY
Kanamara Matsuri started in modern times started in 1977 .
The real god who made fire was around 2000 years ago from there it changed, where the ancient women working in highway towns would be got diseases got different kinds of sicknesses and came to ask to be healed , and since April is a time for new life new power women came to pray for that power to heal . 37 years ago, it was done quietly with around 10 people at midnight then it became earlier, and now it is during day time and visitors grew.
This is not a comical festival it’s rooted in the original philosophy of the Japanese it starts with the ritual of starting a fire to welcome the spirit, now people come to ask for babies for fertility they also pray not to contract AIDS and other STDs. people have such wishes even for AIDS, it’s not for jokes but related to the HIV-tainted blood scandal.
In Japan in the 1980s people came here to pray for those victims as well it’s a sacred festival, it’s a pity that has spread into the wrong direction.
