Thousands of people have flocked to a huge festival in Japan – and it is dedicated entirely to penises.
Enormous members, multi-coloured phallic decorations and food shaped like the male anatomy all feature at the Penis Festival, which is also known as Honen-sai.
Every year in March, residents and visitors of the Aichi Prefecture in Japan flock to Komaki, north of Nagoya, to see a giant phallus carried through the streets.
Men of an “unlucky age” carry a two-metre penis, carved from Japanese cypress, and offer it to the shrine with prayers for a good harvest, flourishing of all natural things and fertility to loved ones.
This can be incredibly hefty, weighing upwards of 400kg and with a circumference of more than 100cm, and is the one to which most tributes and prayers are paid.
Originally, the statue was much smaller and attached to a representation of a samurai, but it has grew bigger over the years.
Lucky guests are able to give the wooden penis a kiss on the tip.
Not only is the star of the show a giant penis, but the streets are awash with all things phallic.
Visitors to the festival tucked into chocolate dipped bananas, uncircumcised hot dogs, and artfully designed pancakes.
The parade, featuring more penis tributes is followed by a street party with snacks, sake, and souvenirs.
While sake is distributed free of charge during the parade, no fighting or trouble has ever been reported, according to Japan’s tourist board.
Aside from the edible goodies, there are also several other fun souvenirs you can pick up. Most popular are the candies and wooden carvings, but you can get a vegetable or fruit phallus as well – or a rather unique nose.
Visitors can pray to the many structures in hopes of having a child, meeting someone lovely, or having a bountiful harvest.
The festival begins each year on March 15 at Tagata shrine, where priests have salted the road to purify the path for those carrying large penises.
