100 Babies Compete in ‘Crying Baby Festival’

The Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival is an annual event that can trace its roots back 400 years. It takes place at the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Japan. Eager parents allow their children to be held by sumo wrestlers while ring assistants do their best to get the little ones to cry. Traditionally, all of this was done as a blessing for the babies. The original name of the festival translates to “crying babies grow.” Whichever child screamed out first would be the one to grow big and strong.