Japan's 'Naked Men' Festival Ends After 1,000 Years Due to Ageing Population

The traditional festival in Iwate, Japan, has been discontinued as the ageing local population struggles to sustain it.

The 'Sominsai' festival, known for its unique ritual of men competing for talismans while nearly naked, has concluded its final event.
Organizing the festival became increasingly difficult due to the ageing population and declining participation in the rural community.
The festival, which drew hundreds of participants and thousands of tourists, has been a significant cultural event for over a millennium.
Local organizers and participants express hope that the tradition can continue in some form, despite the challenges.
From next year, Kokusekiji Temple plans to replace the festival with prayer ceremonies and other spiritual practices.