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Kanamara  Matsuri

Page history last edited by Savannah King 14 years ago

Kanamara Matsuri かなまら祭り

This enormous penis measures 2.5 meters in length 

 

Kanamara Matsuri, translated as "Festival of the Steel Phallus" or simply "Penis Festival," takes place every year on March 15 in Kawasaki, Japan to celebrate fertility and the male sex organ. 

 

Origins

This Shinto festival is not terribly ancient: it began sometime during the Edo period (1603-1867). It is based on a legend in which a sharp-toothed demon fell in love with a young woman and soon thereafter inhabited her vagina. Marriage after marriage, the demon would bite off the penises that dared to enter his residence. After one too many severed penises, the village blacksmith solved this annoyance by forging a steel phallus. The demon's teeth were broken upon insertion of this metallic object. Sometime thereafter this heroic conquering was officially recognized via annual celebration. Prostitutes would arrive at the local Shinto shrine to pray for security against venereal diseases.

 

Influence of Legend in the U.S.

The tale of a penis-biting demon is not exclusive to Japan; other cultures have had stories warning of the vagina dentata. For example, the U.S. film Teeth was released in 2007 depicting a modern teenager suffering from this ailment (her suitors undergo the true suffering, in my opinion). The official trailor can be viewed here.

 

The legendary vagina dentata is also referenced in Clerks 2, a more popular U.S. film. In one scene a character mentions to his coworker that his girlfriend has a "pussy troll" named Pillow Pants. This particular scene can be viewed here (I highly recommend using headphones if you are watching this clip in a public place).

 Perhaps this illustrates vagina dentata (this is actually the sarlacc from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, but I'm sure you get the picture)

 

Precession 

Three portable shrines, or mikoshi, are donated to the Wakamiya Hachimangu temple to transport three different phalli. First there is the traditional mikoshi, called the Kanamara Mikoshi. Then there is the boat-shaped Kanamara-bune Mikoshi. The third is called the Elizabeth Mikoshi, which is easily recognizable due to its bright pink color and also because it is carried by transgender Japanese citizens. 

 

The head priest of the temple "transfers" the gods from the Kanayama Shrine to the portable shrine. Then it is the time to offer prayers to this god while being blessed by the head priest's sacred sakaki branch. Soon afterwards the three mikoshi are paraded around town crowded with spectators. The Kanamara-bune Mikoshi is the first to depart, then followed by the Elizabeth Mikoshi and the Kanamara Mikoshi. 

 

The precession includes musical performances by taiko drummers as well as dancers doing the hula.

 

Kanayama Shrine

This shrine is located on the grounds of the Shinto temple Wakamiya Hachimangu. It was constructed to honor two Shinto deities: Kanayama Hikonokami and Kanayama Himenokami. These two are so special because according to Japanese folklore, they aided the wounded Izanami after she gave birth to the God of Fire (ouch!). They were thereafter known as the deities of childbirth and lower abdomen health. Eventually their roles transformed into protectors of venereal diseases and the safe keepers of marriages. Additionally they became the gods of bellows, which are used by blacksmiths to fan fire.

 

Next to the shrine is a phallic statue donated by a steel company in 1995. Thanks to this monument, no one is forced to wait for Kanamara Matsuri to pray to the gods.

 

Activities

One can partake in a wide variety of eccentric activities during Kanamara Matsuri.

Feeling hungry? Eat a penis or vagina shaped treat.

These yum-yums are made out of mochi, rice cake made from glutinous rice paste.

 

Feeling thirsty? Drink some amazake, a sweet tasting sake, mixed with small fish (this is meant to mimic the consistency of sperm).

This woman is holding a bottle of amazake and the bag on her left contains fish. A more traditional way to drink sake and other alcoholic beverages in Japan can be read here.

 

Do you like rides? An off-colored pickup line can become reality when you hop on top of a giant wooden penis!

 

Do you have an urge to express yourself artistically? Try carving your very own penis out of a vegetable.

This woman is carving a phallic object out of a daikon, a large radish. Its roots (yes, pun intended) can be traced back to the mainland of Asia, not Japan. Carrots are also used as a medium for penis carving.

 

There seems to be a little something for everyone at this festival... 

 ...even foreiners!

 

 

...and the elderly!

 

Costumes

Kanamara Matsuri is known as a costume festival to the citizens of Japan. Those joining in on the fun can borrow kimonos from the temple to wear for no charge. Some choose to wear traditional tengu masks with long phallic shaped noses. There are also more avant garde accessories commonly worn, such as what is seen in the picture below. 

 

Souvenirs

Many vendors set up their booths in the streets during Kanamara Matsuri to sell small gifts in addition to food and drinks. Anime and manga character figurines attached to comically large penises are some of the most popular types of souvenirs. 

 

This is Mew, a character from the Japanese anime Pokemon

 

Penis Talk: East vs. West

Are the Japanese penis-obsessed? Are we uptight prudes? There does not seem to be a solid answer to either of these questions. While many Japanese people and visiting foreigners happily embrace Kanamara Matsuri, there are in fact citizens that refuse to openly recognize the festival's existence. Even with acknowledgment, they sometimes attempt to assure those who are curious that the festival was created for foreigners. 

 

But what about the United States? Why do we not have a festival to celebrate the male sex organ? Here are just a few possible reasons in which I've been able to brain storm:

1. Japan > the U.S. (they do, after all, have square watermelon!)

2. Our culture is influenced by different religious views on human sexuality

 

I'd also like to point out that Kanamara Matsuri does not exclude any demographic from its celebrations. Meanwhile, talking about male genitalia seems to only be acceptable in private groups of young males (my male roommates, for example, are part of this little club). 

 

One safe way to answer these questions is to simply acknowledge and value the cultural differences between Japan and the United States. We might as well accept the fact that we will not have commercials like this in the U.S. anytime soon. 

 

References

http://www.2camels.com/kanamara-matsuri-festival.php

 

http://helen-gray.net/travel/2004/04/03/kanamara-matsuri/

 

 http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/the-best-alternative-festivals-1763014.html?action=Popup&ino=7 

 

http://japan-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/kanamara_matsuri_draws_crowds

 

http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=275

 

 

 

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