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Japanese Naked Man Festival

Radio 1's Chris Stark dons a loincloth and enters Hadaka Matsuri; a 500-year-old Japanese festival of naked men fighting over lucky sticks in a temple.

Radio 1's Chris Stark dons a loincloth and enters Hadaka Matsuri; a 500-year-old Japanese festival of naked men fighting over lucky sticks in a temple.

Around 10,000 men take part in this extremely dangerous annual event, including local school teacher Jun who will be entering for the 13th time. If you get the sticks – thrown by a monk into the crushing crowd – it is believed you will enjoy good fortune in the year ahead.

Nervous after discovering people have been badly injured and died at the festival, Chris is invited to Jun's friendship party and joins his team for a crazy Saturday night in rural Japan. Stark-naked participation and insane scenes, let the battle for sacred sticks commence.

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21 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer/Director Ben Lowe
Production Manager Jenny James
Sound Recordist Jeffrey Jousan
Camera Operator Chris Shepherd
Executive Producer Sam White

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