金マラ祭 Kanamara Matsuri

Okay, so I should warn you that the following post has pictures that are NSFW (not safe for work, for you old fogies)... so go on at your own risk. :)





My friends and I attended the ever famous Kanamara Matsuri, or the "Festival of the Steel Phallus" held in Kawasaki. The legend of its creation is interesting...

Once there was a demon with sharp teeth who loved a woman. Naturally, women aren't usually attracted to demons, so she turned him down. In the vein of "if I can't have her, no one can", the demon inhabited her vagina and would eat the penises of her husbands on their marriage night (a la vagina dentata). Desperate not to die a virgin, she ran to a blacksmith who made her a steel phallus. Upon insertion, it broke the teeth of the demon and allowed to her finally consummate her love.

In celebration of the steel phallus as a beacon of justice for all young men, the festival was created! The temple itself is also where prostitutes go to pray for protection from STDs (condoms would probably do just as fine). Other people go there to pray for fertility. Today the festival is used to raise money for AIDS research.

There were multiple giant statues of penises with girls posing in photos they'd probably later regret...

There were also a large number of transvestites present. 

On to the main event, the actual parade where they carried the mikoshi (portable shrines) with different penises (penii?). First was the Fune Mikoshi (I believe this one is the one representing the steel phallus in the story).

Next was the Elizabeth mikoshi, carried by a group of transvestites. 

There were also the traditional ema, for childbirth/fertility.

We couldn't figure out where they were selling all of the penis and vulva-shaped candy/memorabilia, but it was probably for the best. It was amazingly crowded, too... overall, something fun to do maybe just once to satisfy your curiosity. :)