Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival: Japan's Unique Cultural Tradition Explained

Japan is home to some of the world's most fascinating and unusual cultural festivals, but few are as endearing and quirky as the Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival. Held annually at various Shinto shrines across the country, most notably at the Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, this 400-year-old tradition involves sumo wrestlers holding infants and attempting to make them cry. While it might sound unusual to outsiders, the festival carries deep spiritual meaning and is cherished by local families.

The premise of Nakizumo is rooted in an old Japanese proverb: 'Crying babies grow fast.' According to traditional beliefs, the loud cry of an infant has the power to ward off evil spirits, keep bad luck at bay, and ensure the child grows up healthy, strong, and resilient. During the event, two babies are brought into a symbolic sumo ring by amateur sumo wrestlers. The wrestlers make funny faces, wear traditional masks, or gently shake the babies to encourage a hearty cry. The baby who cries first, or loudest, is declared the winner of the match.

If the babies refuse to cry, a priest wearing a traditional mask may step in to gently startle them. Parents watch eagerly from the sidelines, cheering for their little ones to shed tears, believing that the louder the cry, the greater the blessings from the gods. This unique festival offers a beautiful glimpse into how ancient folklore and modern family life coexist in Japan. Browse through our gallery to see the heartwarming, funny, and dramatic moments from this one-of-a-kind Japanese cultural event.

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