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Japanese bathe in icy water at Tokyo shrine to purify their souls

19 Comments

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19 Comments
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Mostly half-naked men with just white loincloth around their hips and several women in white robes …

I wonder whether women in white loincloths (and bikini tops), or men in white robes, would be welcomed by the shrine elders?

6 ( +11 / -5 )

hope they all got their flu shots

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

so fun! i've done polar plunge for charity many times, it's a blast.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Let the women in!

7 ( +12 / -5 )

obladiToday  08:21 am JST

Let the women in!

"...and several women in white robes joined the annual cold endurance ritual..."

3 ( +8 / -5 )

> diagonalslipToday  08:46 am JST

obladiToday  08:21 am JST

Let the women in!

"...and several women in white robes joined the annual cold endurance ritual..."

photos #2 and #6

0 ( +6 / -6 )

hope they all got their flu shots

The flu is a viral infection

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Purification is key to Shinto rituals to keep away evil spirits. Worshipers can also wish for other things, such as traffic safety, success in business or exams and safe childbirth.

Easy to see why there are so many thriving cults here.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

The flu is a viral infection

yes. it is.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

There are certainly a lot of souls that need purifying right now

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I'll stay "unclean". Even the photo makes me feel cold.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Reading comments, I see half of people did not even look at the article details and came here to complain. And some others expecting a traditional Japanese act to confirm western norms. why do you even read a news site about Japan if your are that bitter about it?

I think this tradition is very interesting and in the same time a feast for eyes.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Looks like al, the young women decided to skip this and hang out in Omotesando and Shibuya

osanToday 11:43 am JST

Reading comments, I see half of people did not even look at the article details and came here to complain. And some others expecting a traditional Japanese act to confirm western norms. why do you even read a news site about Japan if your are that bitter about it?

Why can't people offer their own honest critique? What makes you think Japan and its traditions are above any of that? A lot of people have this idea that Japan is more special than other places and a lot of others, like me, disagree so there you have it.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

I don’t mind the thing although I think the thinking and motivations behind it are grotesque. But boy, the dudes should also wear cloths, that’s a lot of very ugly bodies in display in one place.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

More likely get a cold or feel queer from that freezing water. Would I like to do this? No way Pedro.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I always finish my morning shower with an icy cold one.

Kills hangovers ....unsure about warding off evil spirits.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This plunging into icy water for health does have its counterpart in the west

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This plunging into icy water for health does have its counterpart in the west

Indeed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loony_Dook

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I ain't sure about the extreme, but any of you thletes out ther should know that the cheapest and n=most effective cure for a muscle inflammation caused by a stress trauma is hot, shower, cold shower (rpt,rpt), it encourages the circulation to flush out the muscle. Highly recommended for sore back muscles. more healthy than the western Ibrofen go to.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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