Mudslinging Festival
Hacker, Randi Varner, Mindy
Hacker, Randi
Varner, Mindy
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Abstract
Broadcast Transcript: For some Japanese, getting naked in public with a few hundred of their closest friends is a fantastic way to spend a cold winter day. Dozens of midwinter "hadaka matsuri"--or "naked festivals"--take place annually. One such example is Chiba prefecture's Mud Festival held each February. Scores of men clad in nothing more than a narrow loincloth gather at Musubi shrine to celebrate the New Year by getting down and dirty. At a signal, the guys jump into a giant mud pit for some good natured roughhousing. But this isn't your ordinary run of the mill mudwrestling. No. It's actually a Shinto ritual that gives guys a chance to play in the dirt to guarantee a good harvest and plenty of good luck. And maybe even get filthy... rich while they're at it. #ceas #japan #varner
Description
This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.
Date
2009-06-10
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Publisher
Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
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Keywords
Japan, Hadaka Matsuri, Naked Festivals, Musubi Shrine, New Year, Shinto, Mud Pit Wrestling