Kawasaki City -- Home To Giant Penises

WARNING: The following contains material which some may find offensive

A few years back, I went with Lea to the Naked Festival. I guess this is along the same vein...

On Sunday Apr. 1, I went deeper into Kawasaki-shi to check out the annual Fertility Festival. It was packed with people, especially foreigners, mainly because this festival also involves the exhibition of several gigantor -- thankfully fake -- penises.

[LEFT] Here we have a giant wooden penis. There were women happily posing next to, or ON it.

Plenty of merchandise was available for purchase. Such as bandanas with quite subtle motifs of penises and vaginas.

[RIGHT] One could also join in the relatively unknown art of Daikon Penis. As you can see from the photo, one carves out highly detailed replicas of Johnson & Johnson... and Johnson. And you thought white radishes were only good for soaking up the oil in your Peking Duck.

[DOWN] There were also all sorts of edible goodies to be had, as is prerequisite when it comes to Japanese festivals. Here we have candied penis and pussy galore. To advertise their product, there was a woman walking around sucking on one of these lollipops.

[DOWN] And where would a Penis Fest 2007 be without a bit of... sausage!

[DOWN] This is a solid steel penis over 1 metre in height.

[DOWN].. and this little guy here gets to go on the parade. Due to the sudden 25 degrees celsius temperatures, I was starting to get heatstroke so couldn't stay for the parade, but judging by the HUGE queue to take his photo, I'm guessing he's the star of the show. I guess size doesn't matter in this case...

[LEFT] And what would this be? Why, it's My Melody, everyone's favourite cutesy character. But what does it have to do with the Fertility Festival? Why, it's because a KINDERGARTEN is located right next to the festival/shrine grounds. I'm not entirely sure what penises and kindy have in common (although, in my babysitting and pre-school teaching experience, little boys tend to have no shame showing their sitters their "New Found Discoveries" concerning their nether regions).

[RIGHT] As for THIS cowboy, I have no idea. I just thought he looked pretty authentic.

So folks, further proof (if you still think Japan is all kimonos, bowing and politeness) that Japan is a WHACKY place to be!