Arab News Japan

At this year’s Hadaka Matsuri, or Japan’s Naked Festival, which has been taking place for the last 1,250 years at the Konomiya Shrine, in central Japan, big changes have taken place.

While the men huddle, for the very first time a group of women participate in the male-dominated festival as well.

Hadaka Matsuri sees the men attempt to drive away evil spirits, and then praying for happiness at the shrine. Atsuko Tamakoshi, whose family has been working at the Konomiya festival for generations, said the idea of women participating never came up.

According to the BBC, Tamakoshi said: “In the background, women have always worked very hard to support the men in the festival.”

While many were welcoming of the fact that women would participate for the first time, Tamakoshi explained that there were others who did not approve.

“There were many voices that were concerned (about us taking part) – saying, ‘What are women doing in a men’s festival?’, ‘This is a men’s festival, it’s serious’,” she said.

The women donned “happi coats” – long, purple robes – and white shorts, as opposed to the men’s loincloths, while carrying their own bamboo offerings.

However, they were not part of the men’s rush to the shrine or the practice of clambering over one another to touch the Shin Otoko, or the ‘male deity.’ Traditionally, touching him is meant to drive evil spirits away.

The woman stood in two parallel lines and carried long bamboo sticks wrapped in red and white ribbons.

Tamakoshi lead the way – blowing her whistle and chanting along with the others, “Washoi Washoi.”

They entered the Konomiya Shinto shrine’s courtyard, and, like the men, they’re sprayed with cold water.

After their offering was accepted, the women ended the ceremony with the traditional salutation of two bows, two claps and one final bow.

Many women watching in the audience were emotional, thanking and applauding the brave women.