A traditional Japanese sumo crying baby contest was held on Sunday at a shrine in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
The event at Ikiko Shrine in Kanuma City is based on an old saying that a crying baby will grow up strong and healthy. The festival is designated as an intangible folk cultural property.
Shrine parishioners wearing sumo wrestler belts carried the little contestants into the ring and held them up high.
Some babies cried loudly, but others just looked confused.
There are no winners or losers in the event.
A cheerful atmosphere filled the shrine, with many parents and grandparents visiting with the babies.
One woman in her 60s said she was sure her one-year-old granddaughter was a winner because she cried so loudly.
And another festival-goer who visited with his one-year-old son said he hopes the boy will grow up to be strong and in good health.
The parishioners' representative, Kuramochi Kazuji, said he hopes the tradition will survive despite the declining birthrate.
The event at Ikiko Shrine in Kanuma City is based on an old saying that a crying baby will grow up strong and healthy. The festival is designated as an intangible folk cultural property.
Shrine parishioners wearing sumo wrestler belts carried the little contestants into the ring and held them up high.
Some babies cried loudly, but others just looked confused.
There are no winners or losers in the event.
A cheerful atmosphere filled the shrine, with many parents and grandparents visiting with the babies.
One woman in her 60s said she was sure her one-year-old granddaughter was a winner because she cried so loudly.
And another festival-goer who visited with his one-year-old son said he hopes the boy will grow up to be strong and in good health.
The parishioners' representative, Kuramochi Kazuji, said he hopes the tradition will survive despite the declining birthrate.
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Summary
A Sumo crying baby contest was held at Ikiko Shrine, Tochigi Prefecture, based on the belief that a strong and healthy child cries much. The event, an intangible folk cultural property, saw shrine parishioners carrying babies into the ring. Some cried loudly while others looked puzzled. There were
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ID: 853b248f-9aca-46fb-a5d2-e0a1848232f7
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230924_15/
Date: Sept. 24, 2023
Created: 2023/09/25 07:19
Updated: 2025/12/08 23:18
Last Read: 2023/09/25 07:31