23-2-2024 (TOKYO) Women officially participated in the renowned “naked festival” at a shrine in central Japan on February 22, marking the first time in the event’s 1,250-year history. Clad in purple robes, the women enthusiastically chanted as they carried a large bamboo trunk as an offering, in a ritual believed to ward off evil spirits and bring happiness. Despite its name, participants in the festival do not actually go naked.
Seven groups of women took part in the ceremony, donning “Happi Coats” – robes that reach the hips – and shorts typically worn during Japanese festivals. Meanwhile, men wore loincloths reminiscent of those worn by sumo wrestlers.
Emi Tachibana, a 59-year-old civil servant and one of the participants, expressed her excitement, stating, “I heard that women could participate, so I definitely wanted to take part to help bring excitement to this town and festival.”
According to Mr. Naruhito Tsunoda, a priest at the shrine, there was never a formal prohibition on women participating, and some had even made individual offerings in the past. However, when a women’s group inquired in 2023 about joining the festival, the response was a resounding “yes.”
“The most important thing is for there to be a fun festival for everyone. I believe God would be happiest about that too,” Mr. Tsunoda remarked.
However, the women did not partake in the festival’s main event, which involves a large group of men colliding to drive away evil spirits. Mr. Tsunoda explained that opening that aspect of the festival to women would pose physical challenges.
In 2023, Japan’s government pledged to enhance women’s participation in society after an annual report highlighted the country’s struggle to narrow the gender gap. According to the World Economic Forum’s gender parity ranking, Japan dropped to 125th out of 146 countries in 2023, down from 116th in 2022.
