Pictures of Japan's Iron Penis Festival (Kanamara Matsuri)

On Sunday, thousands gathered in Kawasaki for the Kanamara Matsuri (literally the Festival of the Iron Penis), an event with roots dating back centuries and now one of Japan's best-known fertility festivals.

Kanamara Matsuri - Japan's Iron Penis Festival Pictures:





Kanamara Matsuri had its beginnings in the Edo Period (1603-1868) with the prayers of women called meshimori onna, according to Wakamiya Hachimangu, the Shinto shrine in Kawasaki where the event was held.




Meshimori onna were women employed by the Shogun rulers of Japan during the feudal era to serve travelers along major roads such as the Tokaido that ran from Edo (modern Tokyo) to the ancient capital of Kyoto, with Kawasaki serving as a lodging spot.





Although the meshimori onna were supposed to serve only food, they also served themselves for a price, and it was their custom of praying to the gods that led to the festival as it is today.





Kanamara Matsuri is said to have positive effectives on business and fertility, increases the chance of an easy birth, heightens the possibility of finding a partner, boosts marital harmony and wards off sexually transmitted diseases.






The festival, which its organizers describe as being "relaxed and a tad different," is well-known internationally and attracts hundreds of foreigners every year.






A highlight of the festival involves transvestites and transsexuals carrying a penis-shaped portable shrine (called "Elizabeth," incidentally, after the name of the Tokyo gay bar that originally donated it to the shrine) and screaming out a chant of "Kanamara, dekai mara (Iron penis, whopping penis)."





The festival and shrine are also dedicated toward raising awareness about AIDS prevention.





source: Mainichi

 

are you kidding me!??? LOLLLLL no wonder they're #1 in the porn industry
the sch girl trans.... that's a bit disturbing man

 

Dont tell me, that those are women......if they are...... -sick

I find it quite amussing, but they could atleast cut out those transgenders.....-mellow

 

oh this is just plain hilarious.

 

I wouldn't call it a whopping penis...I'll called that a thwomping penis...it could kill someone off if it falls on someone...

 

Weirdos! There Can Be Many Kids In The Streets!

 

I didn't know they had such a festival before thanks for sharing this with us. it's gonna be a fun topic to bring up in a conversatio. lol Penises every where

 

japanese people are nuts.

 

nor did i lol, but its strange how they have this but they censor private parts in porn i think.

 

Its nice to see that people in Japan have so much time on their hands...-rolleyes

 

lol, well thats another weird thing coming from japan

 

LOL i have always wanted to go to this festival!! hahahah nice pics

 

lols shd look out for these festivals one day, when visiting japan xD

 

ye, u have other countries protesting but jap celebrates the iron penis festival lol.

 

I was looking forward to someone celebrating its politically correct counterpart instead :naughty:

Ralph

 

hahahaha wow didnt know that there was such a festival o___O

 

^ Hidden lollipop icecream surprise

 

lmfaoo ..

 

hahaha~
ive heard about this festival from my friend doing exchange in Yokohama... seems quite unique and amusing... so does anyone know around what period of the year this festival happens?? i find it funny how there is a big diff in opinions... i lot of japanese friends i know are heaps conservative... and here i can see that theyre... quite open about sex and sexuality and stuff~