Japan's traditional 'naked men' festival, a thousand-year-old annual event, has come to an end due to the challenges posed by the country's ageing population. The festival, known for its dramatic scenes of hundreds of men, clad only in loincloths (fundoshi), tussling over a bag of wooden talismans, was held for the last time. The event, taking place in Iwate's Sominsai and other locations, has been a significant cultural ritual, drawing participants and spectators to vie for lucky talismans. However, the declining and ageing demographics in the area have made it increasingly difficult to organize such events, as reported by ANN. The festival's conclusion marks a significant cultural shift and highlights the broader demographic challenges facing Japan.
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Women take part in Japan's 1,250-year-old 'naked festival' for first time https://t.co/AKbCRFHw78 https://t.co/V6nzcKJxLs
Japan’s millennia-old ‘naked man festival’ ending because of population decline https://t.co/jvsyZwwqxK
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VIDEO: 🇯🇵 Japan's 'naked men' festival succumbs to population ageing Hundreds of men tussle over a bag of talismans, in a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual. But the rite will be the last as ageing locals struggle to keep up. 📹 @atishpatel 📷 @fong_fifi #AFPVertical https://t.co/EUrmMVmQE4
VIDEO: Hundreds of naked men tussle over a bag of wooden talismans, performing a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual in Japan that took place for the last time. The "Sominsai" festival is impacted by the country's ageing population crisis. https://t.co/8g3dPJWNNn
Japan's 'naked men' festival comes to an end. The thousand-year-old annual ritual was held for the last time this year as organising the festival has become too heavy a burden for the ageing local villagers https://t.co/OV6q0ruJLg https://t.co/aJSEGhig1f
Loincloth-clad men mark last run of 'bizarre' north Japan festival with 1,000-year history - The Mainichi https://t.co/GzGulUDV2f
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Japan's 'naked men' festival succumbs to aging population: A steam of sweat rose as hundreds of naked men tussled over a bag of wooden talismans, performing a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual in Japan that… https://t.co/m5g9DWiMqI #japannews #japantoday
Iwate's Sominsai Festival, one of Japan's most famous "naked man" festivals, was held for the last time this weekend. This report from ANN notes that the area's declining/aging demographics made it difficult to continue organizing the event. https://t.co/PAfJmn5Ozg https://t.co/htEa1LqNwU
Japan's 'naked men' festival succumbs to population ageing https://t.co/RlyA5dSmyu
Japan's 'Naked Men' Festival Succumbs To Population Ageing https://t.co/t2WcExUR4x https://t.co/dq96cSSoQv
🇯🇵JAPAN’S LAST NAKED-MAN FESTIVAL This centuries-old tradition involved thousands of male participants wearing only loincloths (fundoshi) pushing and jousting for the chance to grab the lucky talismans. “Darn, I missed it?” said no woman, ever. Source: AFP, NHK https://t.co/fUj2mxcRkx
Japan's thousand-year-old 'naked men' festival is held for the last time, the latest tradition to be impacted by the country's ageing population crisis. https://t.co/oOtGyzoBI2 https://t.co/K7JuVckMeT