Hadaka Matsuri: Japan's annual Naked Man Festival

With only a skimpy loincloth to protect their modesty, thousands of men brave freezing temperatures to fight for lucky charms thrown by a priest at Japan's annual Naked Man Festival.
Worshippers arrive at Saidaiji Temple to attend the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Worshippers arrive at Saidaiji Temple to attend the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
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Japanese men wear loincloths to attend the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Japanese men wear loincloths to attend the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Japanese men step in a fountain to be purified during the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Japanese men step in a fountain to be purified during the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Worshippers step out of a fountain after being purified during the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan.  (AFP)
Worshippers step out of a fountain after being purified during the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Worshippers attend the annual Naked Man Festival  with only a skimpy loincloth to protect their modesty. (AFP)
Worshippers attend the annual Naked Man Festival with only a skimpy loincloth to protect their modesty. (AFP)
Worshippers fight to catch the thrown sacred batons during the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Worshippers fight to catch the thrown sacred batons during the annual Naked Man Festival or 'Hadaka Matsuri' at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AFP)
Men dressed in white loincloth shove each other to grab two sacred wooden sticks called 'shingi' thrown in over them during the 508th Saidaiji Eyo 'hadaka matsuri,' or naked men's festival at the main hall of Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AP)
Men dressed in white loincloth shove each other to grab two sacred wooden sticks called 'shingi' thrown in over them during the 508th Saidaiji Eyo 'hadaka matsuri,' or naked men's festival at the main hall of Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, western Japan. (AP)
Worshippers fall down the stairs while waiting for the priest to throw the sacred batons during the annual Naked Man Festival.  (AFP)
Worshippers fall down the stairs while waiting for the priest to throw the sacred batons during the annual Naked Man Festival. (AFP)

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