This Japanese festival is just like thousands of others — plus a lot of penis

[Sherman A1]

Before Buddhism showed up on Japanese shores, there was Shinto, the country’s indigenous religion. And although most modern Japanese are not religious, Shinto is still alive and well.

There are tens of thousands of Shinto shrines scattered all over Japan, and most have their own festivals where the local spirit is taken out and paraded around in a portable shrine. There are food, games and boisterous fun.

That's how I came to be in Kawasaki Daishi, a town just south of Tokyo, for the Kanamara Festival earlier this month.

When I got there, there was a long line to get into the small shrine grounds. I asked 28-year-old Taro Tanaka and his friends what they were waiting for.

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-15/japanese-festival-just-thousands-others-plus-lot-penis

Seems to be a very thoughtful and well rounded festival and group of people not afraid of their sexuality.

[underpants]

1. That's just swell

[FSogol]

3. It used to be a small festival, but it keeps expanding.

[Taitertots]

4. It's not about the size of the festival, it's all about...

The enthusiasm of the audience

[FSogol]

5. Hope it is not too chilly that day and I hope they don't start without me.

[Tom Ripley]

10. It's bigger than it looks

[Eleanors38]

13. "...it's the motion."

[MisterP]

12. lots of people lifting their heads high at this event

[bettyellen]

2. I thought the Japanese were having less sex than any advanced nation!

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Well, there are certainly lots of single Japanese women in their 30s and 40s

who wouldn't even consider going out with a single man on a date.

Group dates (which really aren't "dates" in a Western sense) are sometimes acceptable, though.

[bettyellen]

11. Yeah, interesting they have this penis waving fest and yet.../

It is't at all indicative of a lack of repression or anything that is currently going on there.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. I don't know what the deal is

although I expect it has something to do with Japanese mothers advising their daughters that sex is merely for procreation, not recreation.

I could write a book about this, and maybe I will.

[betsuni]

7. "small shrine grounds"

Heh.

[Taitertots]

8. What do I have to do to get metal penis festival to come to Detroit

Is this like and if you build it they will come moment. or my going to be alone on the side of the road with a gigantic metal penis.

FYI, The American metal penis festival is going to also have balls on the statue

[ismnotwasm]

9. Penis lolly pops-- that just precious.