Two crushed at Naked Festival (Hold Muh Saki & Loincloth)

AP via The Times (London) ^ | 14 February 2003

[Stultis]

Two crushed at Naked Festival
14/02/2003 09:12  - (SA)  

Tokyo - Two people were crushed and remained unconscious on Friday after a crowd of about 9 000 men wearing only loincloths got out of control at an annual Naked Festival in central Japan, police said.

The two men were in serious condition the morning after the accident, a police official said, requesting anonymity.

The two victims were trampled on by fellow participants in the popular ritual, which dates back over 1 200 years. Another 38 of the participants and spectators were treated at the local hospital for injuries, he said.

Some 125 000 people showed up to watch the crowd of men dressed in white loincloths try to ward off bad luck by touching the body of the year's appointed "sacred man" as he enters Konomiya Shrine, in central Japan.

The two unconscious men, aged 30 and 41, got caught under the mob of pushing and shoving worshippers before others noticed and were able to call for medical assistance, the police official said.

Some of the injured were sick after drinking too much Japanese rice wine, or sake, to warm themselves in the freezing mid-February temperatures, the police official added.

Several people are generally injured in the ritual every year, but there have been no other cases of serious injury in recent memory, he said. - Sapa-AP

[DainBramage]

"by touching the body of the year's appointed "sacred man" .

Over here its called a Jap Slap.

[UncleSamUSA]

Over here its called a "Gang Bang"

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[sd-joe]

Boy those Japanese really know how to have fun - NOT.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

It's one thing to be trampled and left unconcious, but to lay there naked, well that's just embarassing.

[T Minus Four]

[T Minus Four]

Over here it's called spring break.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...the crowd of men...try to ward off bad luck by touching the body of the year's appointed 'sacred man'..."

I take it these two didn't get to touch last year's appointed sacred man?

[demosthenes the elder]

Over here it is called a gay pride parade.

[Alouette]

In Mecca it's called "stoning the Devil"

[VoiceOfBruck]

Some of the injured were sick after drinking too much Japanese rice wine, or sake, to warm themselves in the freezing mid-February temperatures, the police official added.

It's really not that cold in Tokyo in February - hi 40s, low 50s. And if you're in the middle of a crowd of naked men, well I bet it's downright toasty!

Sorry about your keyboard.

[11th Earl of Mar]

It's really not that cold in Tokyo in February - hi 40s, low 50s

Do women know about 'shrinkage'?

[demosthenes the elder]

In England it is called a football game

[Elsie]

Is THIS where the revival of HAIR is being performed?

[Corin Stormhands]

Do women know about 'shrinkage'?

Would it matter in Japan?

[E Rocc]

They were trying to get close to the featured performers:

Yatta!

-Eric

[laker_dad]

I guess this is much more fun than just queueing up to shake his hand, huh?

[The Electrician]

Is that the same as this Yatta? What a strange world this is. I had no idea...

[demosthenes the elder]

*I* wasn't going to go there...