Japanese Worship Gigantic Rock-Hard Penis

In fairness, who doesn't?

The Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus) is an annual Shinto fertility festival held in Kawasaki , Japan in spring. The exact dates vary, but the main festivities fall on a Sunday. The penis forms the central theme of the event that’s reflected everywhere; in illustrations, candy, carved vegetables, decoration, a parade of mikoshis, etc.

Candy?

The Kanamara Matsuri is centered around a local penis-venerating shrine...

Also called "My Sister."

... once popular among prostitutes who wished to pray for protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Today, the festival is used to raise money for HIV research.

Created back in Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867) to pray for sexual safety (especially against syphilis) among Kawasaki’s prostitutes, this Shinto gathering now helps raise money for HIV/AIDS research. But the festival attracts more than just those interested in fighting STDs; it also draws Japanese couples looking for good fertility luck, a large gay/lesbian crowd...

No, that's impossible.

... lots of proud locals, and scores of interested foreigners who come to gawk at the gigantic portable plaster phallus shrine and buy souvenir John Thomas lollypops and charms.

This only adds to my long-held theory: The Japanese are really, really friggin' weird.

Thanks to rcl, who writes:

Like me, for them, "the penis forms the central theme of the event..". In my case, the event is a pending charge. I wonder if I can use this enlightened philospohy in my current legal imbroglio, where my penis plays such a key role?

He supplies no details about this matter. Thankfully.

posted by Ace at 07:06 PM

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