In early April, dozens of revelers gather in the city of Kawasaki, about 30 minutes south of Tokyo, to celebrate Kanamara Matsuri, Japan’s infamous penis festival, whose name roughly translates to Steel Phallus Festival. The main Kanamara Matsuri festivities have taken place on the first Sunday of April since 1969 (yes, seriously).
At the festival focused on the um, Organ and fertility, attendees can erect gigantic penis statues on portable shrines, indulge in penis-shaped lollipops, buy penis-shaped candles, and (obviously) dress up as penises. There is a seemingly endless variety of phallic products!
“Amazing. So much fun, so unique, such a different experience,” said an Australian tourist who attended this year’s gathering. told Euronews. “It’s very strange to come from Australia to see something like this, but everyone seems to be having a great time.”
