Nakizumo Festival: The Unique Japanese tradition of making babies cry

Japanese festivals are typically lively and bustling, but the Nakizumo Festival takes this to another level as the air fills with the sound of wailing infants.

Every year, parents of babies aged between six months and two years, dressed in elaborate outfits, bring their little ones to this unique festival, which is held in various locations across Japan.

The event is believed to bring good health and longevity to the children.

At the heart of the festival is an unusual competition where babies are encouraged to cry, with the first to do so declared the winner. If both contestants cry at the same time, the baby who wails the loudest and longest is crowned the champion.

Sumo wrestlers carefully hold the infants inside the dohyo (sumo ring), while a referee chants “nake! nake!”—meaning "cry"—to prompt tears.

If the babies remain silent, individuals wearing tengu (bird demon) masks step in to startle them into crying.

With a history spanning over 400 years, the Nakizumo Festival is one of Japan’s long-standing cultural traditions. The event held at Ikiko Shrine in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, has even been recognized as an important piece of Japan’s intangible folk heritage.

The festival is rooted in the old belief that “naku ko wa sodatsu,” meaning "babies who cry grow up strong and healthy." It is also thought to ward off evil spirits.

Parents typically pay around 15,000 yen for their child to take part in the event, hoping to secure a prosperous future for them.

The festival is usually hosted at a shrine, where families—including grandparents—gather in a lively and festive atmosphere.

The largest and most renowned version of the event takes place at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, but similar ceremonies are held across Japan, making it accessible to people in different regions.