The Muddy Rite 泥巴祭

Men in loincloths jostle each other in a muddy rice paddy at Mimusubi shrine in Yotsukaido, near Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010. Hundreds of local dwellers took part in “the muddy rite”a ceremony to pray for a good harvest for the year and good health for babies.

2月25日在日本東京附近四街道市的皇產靈神社前，多名僅穿著褌（纏腰布）的男子，在混著米漿的泥巴裡彼此推擠，共有數百名當地民眾參與這項「泥巴祭」，祈求豐收以及新生兒健康。