EARLY APRIL.
THIS PRETTY MUCH TAKES THE CAKE.
If you thought Finland was out there with its wife-carrying and air guitar obsessions, then here comes the weirdness to outdo all weirdness.
IS THAT A…?
Yes ma’am, it sure is. The English translation of this festival’s name is the Festival of the Iron Phallus. We’re betting you haven’t seen quite so many penises out in the open, in one place, at one time. The penis parade that happens in the afternoon on the day of the festival is a sight to behold; in particular, the phalluses put up on the pedestals are impressive in their anatomical correctness.
SEEMS A TOUCH GRATUITOUS.
For Westerners, the sight of so many model penises on display, some of which are the size of a standing human being, for example, can be confronting or amusing, depending on your point of view. However, the meaning behind the festival isn’t so token or gratuitous – the point of the festival for many normally reserved Japanese is to celebrate fertility, marriage, birth and healthy sex.
