26.04.2025 16:10
Japan's interesting tradition of the "Crying Baby Sumo" festival once again showcased colorful scenes this year. In the festival, the first baby to cry, frightened by a masked sumo wrestler, is declared the winner. It is believed that the crying of the babies during this traditional festival, held every year, brings them health.
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One of Japan's most interesting traditions, the "Crying Baby Sumo Festival" (Nakizumo), was once again a colorful spectacle this year. At the historic Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, tiny babies competed to cry in the arms of sumo wrestlers.
THOUGHT TO BRING HEALTH
The festival is based on the belief in Japanese culture that babies crying strongly drives away evil spirits and ensures healthy growth. This belief is expressed in the common Japanese proverb "naku ko wa sodatsu" (crying children grow), which means "crying children grow."
In the event organized according to Shinto traditions, sumo wrestlers carry babies aged 6 to 18 months into the ring and scare them with masks to make them cry, as judged by referees called "Gyoji."
THE FIRST TO CRY WINS
Two babies are brought face to face to see which one cries first. The first crying baby is declared the winner, while if both babies cry at the same time, the one who cries louder or longer is considered the winner. Some referees contribute to the fun by wearing traditional masks to scare the babies.
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