Naked Festival, Japan

Pop by the city of Saidaiji-naka in Japan's Okayama Prefecture around February time, and there's a good chance you will come across the alarming spectacle of nine thousand men wearing only loincloths.

Not only that, they will all be struggling with each other to catch "lucky" willow sticks thrown by a priest from a window four metres up. And to top it off, the event takes place at midnight in the dark, with the men chanting rousing cries of "Wasshoi! Wasshoi!" as they parade to the meeting point beforehand.

All very surreal, but the Hadaka Matsuri festival dates back 500 years and is widely embraced by locals and tourists alike.

Picture credits: Rex Features and Getty Images

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