#33: Celebration of the Phallus
Every April in Kawasaki City, Japan, a most unexpected celebration unfolds: the Kanamara Matsuri, or Festival of the Steel Phallus. What began as a spiritual gathering for prostitutes and those battling sexually transmitted diseases has evolved into a colorful, cheeky celebration of fertility, safe sex, and love in all forms.
Rooted in a Shinto myth about a demon who hid inside a goddess’s vagina—only to be thwarted by an iron phallus—the festival now features towering penis-shaped floats, lollipops, and novelty foods, all parading through the streets. Joyously inclusive and surprisingly reverent, it’s a bold blend of ancient lore and modern values.
