Kanamara Matsuri: Everything you wanted to know about Japan’s Penis Festival

Every spring, thousands of tourists flock to Kawasaki, Japan, to celebrate one thing – the penis.

Yes, blessed is the male member during Kanamara Matsuri - commonly referred to as the “Steel Penis Festival” - which is an annual event held on the first Sunday of April. 

And to not mince words, it looks like Mardi Gras with dongs.

This may seem odd to some, considering Japan is a country that is usually associated with decorum and discretion when it comes to one’s private life - especially sexuality. However, everyone shows up to the centrepiece of the event: the Mikoshi parade, which features three large erect (but portable) shrines carried through the streets on floats.

One is a black iron phallus, one is a wooden willy, and the third is a pink prick.

But why, you ask?

Well, the ancient legend has it that a young woman once fell victim to a jealous demon's curse. The sharp-toothed demon, driven by envy, chose to hide inside her vagina and bit off her husband’s penis when she tried to have sex with him.

If this is sounding like the inspiration behind the 2007 film Teeth, you’re not half wrong.

Apparently, the desperate woman sought assistance from a blacksmith who crafted a metal phallus to outwit the demon. As the demon attempted to bite down on the steel schlong, its teeth shattered, forcing it to abandon the woman's body. She lived happily ever after with her husband, who somehow managed to grow his penis back. 

Quite the feat, you'll agree, and the details are a bit fuzzy for this part of the story… But hooray for metal members.

The festival, which held its first edition in 1969 (seriously), commemorates this legend, and the Kanayami Shrine where the steel phallus resides has become a focal point for couples wishing to pray for