Ohara Hadaka Matsuri a.k.a. the Ohara Naked Festival took place in heavy rain on the 23rd of September.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

To clarify “naked” is clearly not an accurate description with the participants wearing far more than the fundoshi loincloths seen at the Okayama Hadaka Matsuri.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

As this is a traditional Shinto festival a priest gave blessings, and somewhat unusually two arrows were launched into the ocean.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

Teams carried mikoshi (portable shrines) down to the ocean.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

It was clear that the mikoshi were heavy and the teams looked exhausted as they shouldered the wooden beams.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

After dunking themselves and the shrine in the ocean waves they returned to the beach, and managed to raise it above their heads.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

All images shot with the Pentax 645Z and the 25mm lens. Glad both the camera and lens are weather sealed because they were subjected to rain for half an hour.