Japan has welcomed the return of a 400-year-old folk contest that pits crying babies against each other for good fortune. And they even wear little sumo costumes. Yes, this is a real competition.
Japan has welcomed the return of a 400-year-old folk contest pitting crying babies against each other for good fortune.
The Naki Sumo festival sees a pair of infants positioned face-to-face in a sumo pit, dressed in tiny ‘mawashi’ loincloths traditionally worn by wrestlers as they enter the ring in tournaments.while a referee in traditional sumo uniform assesses the results. In some areas, the contestants are lucky enough to be cradled by one of their parents – while others are held aloft by a real sumo wrestler.
The rules also vary around the country: in some regions, the first to cry wins, in others it’s the last to cry, while some choose the loudest wailers as the winners.In modern times, though, parents are more likely to believe that a good sob is a sign their young one will grow up strong and happy.
Hisae Watanabe, mother of an eight-month-old, told AFP news agency: ‘We can tell a baby’s health condition by listening to the way they cry.The contests, held at the high point of spring, have been officially banned for the last three years due toShigemi Fuji, chairman of Asakusa Tourism Federation, added: ‘In Japan, we believe babies who cry powerfully also grow up healthily. This kind of event takes place in many places in Japan.
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