Japanese men wearing joke glasses with penis nose pieces during the Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus) on Sunday, April 3, 2016 in Kanagawa, Japan.
The 2016 edition of Japanese annual penis festival known as The Festival of the Steel Phallus (Kanamara Matsuri) took place in Kawasaki, Japan.
The event which took place on Sunday, April 3, 2016 was a memorable one with different sizes of penis-shaped objects including lollipops.
Over 20,000 people gathered to observe the festival which Shinto believers carried giant phalluses through the streets.
It was learnt that the origin of the festival dated way back in the 17th century when a 1-meter “Steel Phallus” was reportedly erected by a local blacksmith that honored Shinto deities of fertility and childbirth.
Prostitutes reportedly went to the shrine to seek protection from sexual diseases. However, recently, the festival is a huge draw for Japanese and foreign tourists and is used to raise money for HIV and AIDS research.
Speaking to AFP, a local priest of the shrine, Hiroyuki Nakamura, said: “If young children are not used to seeing (male genitalia), they could get into a bit of a panic when the time comes.
“People come to pray for good fortune and to ask the gods to protect them. The festival is steeped in the past but has still has a valuable part to play in modern society.”
See some NSFW photos from the event below. (Click on any image to enlarge).
A couple hold candy in the shape of phalluses at the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Japanese men wearing joke glasses with penis nose pieces during the Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus) on Sunday, April 3, 2016 in Kanagawa, Japan.
Women hold candy in the shape of phalluses at the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
A woman holding Japanese radishes carved as phalluses at the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Women hold candy in the shape of phalluses at the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Believers of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine carry portable shrines bearing phalluses during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Believers of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine carry portable shrines bearing phalluses during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Believers of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine carry a portable shrine bearing a phalluse during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Believers of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine carry a portable shrine bearing a phalluse during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
People crowd outside the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine to see portable shrines bearing phalluses during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Believers of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine carry a portable shrine bearing a phalluse during the Kanamara Festival in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
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