In a symbolic end to a thousand-year-old ritual, hundreds of naked men engaged in a spirited struggle over a bag of wooden talismans, marking the final occurrence of Japan's renowned "Sominsai" festival. The event, which has attracted hundreds of participants and thousands of tourists annually, has become increasingly challenging for the aging local community to organize and sustain.
The "Sominsai" festival, considered one of Japan's most peculiar festivals, has fallen victim to the country's aging population crisis, which has disproportionately affected rural communities. The festival, held at the secluded Kokuseki Temple in the Iwate region of northern Japan, used to take place from the seventh day of the Lunar New Year until the following morning. However, due to the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic, the festival was scaled down to prayer ceremonies and smaller rituals.
Daigo Fujinami, a resident monk of the temple, expressed the challenges of organizing such a large-scale festival, stating, "It is very difficult to organize a festival of this scale. Behind the scenes, there are many rituals and a great deal of work that needs to be done. I cannot overlook the harsh reality."
Japan has experienced a faster rate of aging compared to most other countries, resulting in the closure of numerous schools, shops, and services, particularly in small and rural areas. The aging local community of Kokuseki Temple has found it increasingly burdensome to continue the tradition of the "Sominsai" festival.
The final iteration of the festival was a condensed version that ended around 11:00 pm, but it attracted the largest crowd in recent memory, according to local residents. As the sun set, men wearing white loincloths gathered at the mountainous temple, bathed in a creek, and paraded around the temple grounds. They braved the winter breeze, chanting "jasso joyasa" while clutching their fists. Some participants recorded their experiences with small cameras, while dozens of television crews followed their every move along the temple's stone steps and dirt pathways.
As the festival reached its climax, hundreds of men packed into the wooden temple, shouting, chanting, and fiercely vying for possession of the bag of talismans. Toshiaki Kikuchi, a local resident who claimed the talismans and had been involved in organizing the festival for years, expressed his hope for the tradition to continue in the future. He said, "Even in a different format, I hope to preserve this tradition. There are many aspects that can only be appreciated by participating."
While many participants and visitors expressed both sadness and understanding regarding the festival's conclusion, others acknowledged the need for adaptation. Some temples across Japan are modifying their rules to accommodate changing demographics and social norms, allowing women to participate in ceremonies that were previously exclusive to men.
Beginning next year, Kokuseki Temple plans to replace the festival with prayer ceremonies and other means of continuing its spiritual practices. "Japan is facing challenges such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, and a lack of young people to sustain various traditions," noted Yasuo Nishimura, a caregiver from Osaka. "Perhaps it is difficult to continue in the same manner as in the past."
The closure of the "Sominsai" festival serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of Japan's aging population on its cultural traditions. As the country grapples with demographic shifts, efforts to preserve and adapt traditional customs become increasingly vital in order to maintain a sense of cultural heritage and community bonds.
日本傳統「裸男」節日因人口老化而衰落
數百名裸體男子爭奪著一袋木符，象徵性地結束了日本著名的「Sominsai」節日的最後一次舉辦。這個每年吸引數百名參與者和成千上萬名遊客的活動，對於年邁的當地社區來說，組織和維持已變得越來越具有挑戰性。
「Sominsai」節日被視為日本最奇特的節日之一，而如今它成為了日本人口老化危機的受害者，這一危機對鄉村社區的影響尤為嚴重。該節日曾在日本北部岩手縣的隱匿的國石寺舉行，從農曆新年的第七天一直持續到隔天早晨。然而，由於新冠疫情帶來的困難，該節日被縮減為祈禱儀式和較小的儀式。
國石寺的居民和尚藤波大吾表示：「組織這樣一個大型節日非常困難。在幕後，有很多儀式和大量的工作需要完成。我不能對困難的現實視而不見。」
日本的人口老化速度比大多數其他國家都要快，這導致許多學校、商店和服務機構關閉，特別是在小型和鄉村地區。國石寺的年邁當地社區發現繼續舉辦「Sominsai」節日變得越來越負擔沉重。
最後一次節日活動是一個縮短版本，大約在晚上11點結束，但據當地居民稱，吸引了近年來人數最多的觀眾。太陽下山時，身穿白色褌布的男子來到山上的寺廟，沐浴在溪流中，繞著寺廟的場地遊行。他們緊握拳頭抵擋冬日的寒風，同時高呼「jasso joyasa」。一些參與者用小相機紀錄他們的經歷，而數十個電視台的攝制組則跟隨男子們走過寺廟的石階和泥土小徑。
隨著節日達到高潮，數百名男子擠滿木製寺廟內，大聲呼喊、高喊口號，並爭奪一袋木符。多年來協助組織節日的當地居民菊地敏明表示，他希望這一傳統在未來能得以延續。「即使以不同的形式，我希望能保留這項傳統。只有參與其中，你才能欣賞到許多獨特之處。」
許多參與日本傳統嘅「裸男」節日因為人口老化嘅問題而逐漸衰落。
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