In the village of Komaki, Japan, there is a shrine devoted to the penis.
Each spring, Japanese from across the country visit the town of Komaki to watch an enormous wooden penis carried through the streets and to eat penis-shaped sweets.
The tradition is thought to have begun around 1,500 years ago. A springtime celebration, the “penis festival”, or Honen-sai Matsuri, is carried out to bring fertility and a good harvest to the people.
All kinds of people attend the festival, they’re all very easy going and there are no fights or rowdy crowds. Sake is given out freely to people along the parade route.
Every year a new giant penis is made from a hinoki (cypress) tree. It’s 13 feet long and weighs 620 pounds. It’s made by special craftsman, using
ancient tools and techniques. It represents the essence of unity of man and woman and of earth.
The white cloaks worn by the men are used to symbolize cleanliness and holiness; only those wearing them are allowed to carry the wooden statue of the giant penis.
Women carry smaller hand crafted penises to protect them from harm or to help them with fertility.
The video below shows the newly crafted giant penis being paraded around town.
