Everyone Loves a (Phallus) Parade
The Kanamara Matsuri, or Festival of the Steel Phallus, got its start in the 1600s in Japan when prostitutes in the town began praying to "Lord Iron Penis" (no relation to the Iron Chef, thankfully) to save them from contracting venereal diseases.
These days, the festival (NSFW, unless you work at a brothel of some kind) has morphed into a celebration that raises money for HIV and AIDS awareness. A portable phallus shrine is brought through the streets by transvestites with penis lollipops. There are many, many photo ops, and more tourists than locals participating. Somehow we don't see this catching on much in the US. Lord Iron Penis is an excellent band name, though.
Related Stories:
· Thousands gather for fertility festival [MSN; with video]
· Heads up [Metropolis]
· Festival of the Steel Phallus [Darren Barefoot]
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