Japanese Harvest Wrestling Ritual Celebrated In Yotsukaido

On February 26, 2026, the Warabi Hadaka Matsuri, a 200-year-old harvest wrestling festival, took place in Yotsukaido, Japan, amidst heavy rain. Over 30 participants, clad in traditional loincloths, engaged in mud wrestling to pray for a bountiful harvest and the healthy growth of children. "This festival has a long history," remarked Takeshi Seino, a teacher participating for the third time. The event, which has roots in agricultural practices where villagers wrestled in rice paddies, continues to be a significant cultural ritual despite the area's transformation from farmland to residential development. Kenji Tsuruoka, one of the festival's organizers, noted that many participants brought their newborns to the event, emphasizing its importance in community bonding and cultural preservation. Kenji Nagata, a participant, humorously referred to the rain as "blessed rain," highlighting the festival's connection to agricultural blessings. This year's event was particularly poignant as it marked a continuation of a tradition that has adapted over time yet remains central to the local identity, even as the farming landscape has drastically changed.