Held by college sumo wrestlers, a couple of babies cry at the Naki Sumo or Crying Baby Contest at Sensoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo on Saturday. The annual traditional ritual is performed as a prayer for the healthy growth of babies.
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17 Comments
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sensei258
I'd be crying to if my mother had handed me over to a stranger. Those poor kids must be terrified.
Chenchan
Seems like baby on the right did his/her best to win!
Cortes Elijah
Actually no. I had a childhood full of fear and crap happening to me and it made me fearless. A little bit of fear training on this new generation will harden them up.
Cortes Elijah
Good for their little lungs. It makes them more stronger and less likely to get fear. Good!
smithinjapan
Saw this once at a shrine in Hyogo prefecture. The wrestlers who held the babies were extremely gentle, and in a way it was cute, but it's less a prayer for the health of babies than it is a kind of entertainment.
bass4funk
Oh, I most definitely agree with you about that.
Kabukilover
This is really cruel.
Cos
OK, your alleged child memories have more value than the thousands scientific studies made about stressing infants.
YongYang
Although for the intention of actually making my child cry --something I'd not do, to purposefully aim to cause fear in my child-- the crying is a natural response mechanism, I don't understand why you'd WANT your child to be stressed out, but babies do cry when given to strangers by a parent. The infants are not being physically abused, maybe mentally though!
Wyandotte Nation
I see nothing cruel or wrong, getting kids involved is essential for normal growth and development, and don't you feel better after a good cry? I know I do...
Red Dragon
It is a contest! The little piglets are being squeezed and pinched to make them squeal louder to win.
Crimson and Clover
"Actually no. I had a childhood full of fear "
These are not children. They are infants.
Cos
No, it's the contrary. That's the best way to make a kid fearful.
Crimson and Clover
Should be renamed "Most Traumatized Baby Contest".
Lilic
Just Ridiculous.....
HideSatou
Why does the government allow this absurd ritual?
WilliB
There is already enough bullying in Japanese society.... at least babies should be spared. This is one stupid "tradition".