Six people were hospitalized in western Japan on Saturday night after a traditional festival that draws thousands of near-naked men. Officials say three were unconscious.
Emergency services received a call around 10 p.m. reporting injuries at the Saidaiji Kannonin Temple in the city of Okayama.
The festival commonly known as “Hadaka Matsuri,” or Naked Festival, features men wearing loincloths competing to catch wooden sticks believed to bring good luck. The ritual dates back over 500 years and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Organizers say about 10,000 people attended. They believe the injuries occurred when the lights in the main hall were turned off at 10 p.m. and the sacred sticks were thrown into the crowd.
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