Evolving Japanese Traditions: Women's Role in Transforming Age-Old Festivals
The transformation of a long-standing male-centric Japanese tradition reflects the impact of a declining population. Discover how women's participation in these festivals signifies a shift towards inclusivity and adaptation in cultural practices.
With a history of over 1,200 years, the "hadaka matsuri," also known as the naked festival, showcases Japanese masculinity in a unique way.
In the midst of winter, men from all over Japan gather to strip down to just a small white loincloth, braving the cold to participate in this ancient tradition. They come together at their local shrines, where they push and shove to try to get close to the "shin-otoko," a symbolic figure believed to bring protection from misfortune.
The ritual in Japan highlights the country's deep respect for tradition and cultural heritage. However, it also reveals a long-standing issue of gender inequality, as women are excluded due to the belief that only men are pure in traditional Japanese culture.
Currently, men continue to dominate the highest positions in government and hold the majority of top positions in prestigious private companies.
Japan was ranked 125th in the Global Gender Gap Index report by the World Economic Forum last year, which was much lower than other G7 countries like Germany, Britain, and the United States. It was only slightly better than India and Saudi Arabia, known for their poor records on gender equality.
According to experts, some women in Japan still face cultural pressures to fulfill the traditional role of "shufu," or housewife. In addition, the country's long work hours and male-dominated institutional culture create additional challenges for women who already bear a heavier burden of family responsibilities compared to men.
But at the naked festival, women have discovered a glimmer of hope. The long-standing male-dominated tradition in the country has been challenged due to a decreasing population.
Men strip naked — except for a delicate piece of crotch-covering white loincloth — to take part in the naked festival at Konomiya Shrine on February 22, 2024.
Men strip naked — except for a delicate piece of crotch-covering white loincloth — to take part in the naked festival at Konomiya Shrine on February 22, 2024.
Christopher Gallagher/Reuters
In February, the Konomiya Shrine in central Japan saw a decrease in male participants at the annual hadaka matsuri. This led to a historic moment as 41 women were welcomed to join the festival for the first time.
Mikiko Eto, an emerita professor at Hosei University in Tokyo who focuses on gender politics, explained that one of the reasons for allowing women to participate in this traditional event was the dwindling number of male participants.
The number of young men is decreasing quickly, so we are happy to welcome women to participate due to the shortage of male participants.
Haruhiko Nishio, 57, a member of an alumni club for shin-otoko involved in organizing the hadaka matsuri at the Konomiya Shrine, remembered that last year the festival had only 1,700 attendees, which is just one-fifth of the pre-pandemic crowds.
Women were not officially prohibited from participating, but this large-scale involvement was unprecedented. The female group, called Enyukai, was given a minor role during the event, and the women decided to remain fully dressed. Despite this, the experience held great symbolic significance for those who were involved.
“Japan can’t help but put men at the front and women in the back. I want to unleash female power from now on,” participant Atsuko Tamakoshi, 56, told CNN.
Women — donning happi, a traditional festive coat — are responsible for carrying a bamboo offering during the naked festival at Konomiya Shrine on February 22, 2024.
Women — donning happi, a traditional festive coat — are responsible for carrying a bamboo offering during the naked festival at Konomiya Shrine on February 22, 2024.
Chris Gallagher/Reuters
For the organizer, it might seem like a practical choice. However, Ayaka Suzuki, 36, the vice president of Enyukai, believes it's all about gender equality.
But that's not the end of it, according to scholars. With no simple answers in sight, Japan's decreasing population could not only change the ancient festival, but also impact the world's fourth largest economy.
"The importance of the aging society on the Japanese economy cannot be underestimated. With a need for more working individuals and active participants, it is crucial to encourage women to join the workforce," Eto emphasized.
"An aging society presents an opportunity for women to strive towards achieving gender equality, as there is a growing demand for capable individuals in our society," she pointed out.
Japan experienced a decrease in the number of births for the eighth year in a row in 2023. The total number of births dropped by 5.1% from the previous year, reaching a record low of 758,631, as reported by the Ministry of Health.
In recent years, Japan has had a fertility rate of around 1.3, which is much lower than the 2.1 rate needed to keep the population stable. Due to very low levels of immigration, the Japanese government has been emphasizing the importance of increasing births as a critical and urgent issue.
The Yokobori family: Miho, left, Kentaro, center, and Hirohito, right. Kentaro was born almost seven years ago, the first in 25 years in the area in Kamikawa village.
The Yokobori family: Miho, left, Kentaro, center, and Hirohito, right. Kentaro was born almost seven years ago, the first in 25 years in the area in Kamikawa village.
Futa Nagao for CNN
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Eto, a student from Hosei University, pointed out that the impact of a decreasing population extends beyond just small towns and traditional customs.
According to a recent report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japan's workforce, which includes foreign nationals, was 66 million in 2023. However, the report predicts that this number will drop drastically to around 32 million by the year 2100 if Japan's fertility rate remains stagnant.
And as the population crisis spirals, the government and many businesses have started asking why women are still bound by social expectation to stay home, Eto said.
Amplified voices
Eto mentioned that there have been some improvements, especially with changes to the hadaka matsuri, although the motives behind these changes may have been more practical than forward-thinking.
Businesses are now actively promoting gender equality in the workplace to create a more inclusive environment for women. Additionally, the government has implemented various initiatives to support mothers, such as aiming for 85% of male workers to take paternity leave by 2030 to achieve a more equal distribution of household responsibilities.
Examples of women leaders are on the rise. Mitsuko Tottori recently became the first female president and CEO of Japan Airlines, taking on the role on April 1. Yoko Kamikawa also made history by becoming the first woman in two decades to be appointed as foreign minister last September.
Despite these advancements, the representation of women in politics and management is still disappointingly low, according to experts. Currently, only five out of the 20 members in Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet are women. Furthermore, as of 2023, women hold less than 13% of senior and leadership positions in businesses, as revealed in the Global Gender Gap report.
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Eto pointed out that Japan is being held back by a lack of innovative policies, such as quota systems for women that some European countries have adopted.
Kaori Katada, an associate professor of social science at Hosei University, mentioned that Japan's progress on gender equality has been gradual and subtle. Despite women being provided with more opportunities, she highlighted that bias and stereotypes are still prevalent.
Women are often limited to lower-ranking roles like caregivers in kindergarten and nursing, where they are typically paid less than men.
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One woman shared, "Women often find themselves balancing household duties and childcare, leading them to take on part-time roles. This limits their ability to pursue high-ranking management positions as they are also responsible for looking after their children."
Not all social institutions are as welcoming to women as the hadaka matsuri at Konomiya Shrine. In the world of sumo wrestling, which is predominantly male, women like Hiyori Kon, a top amateur sumo wrestler, face challenges. Hiyori Kon, who was featured in the 2018 Netflix documentary "Little Miss Sumo," shared with CNN that she often encounters disapproval. This highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality in Japan. She recalled a male colleague once telling her, "If you continue sumo, you won’t be able to marry, so you better quit soon."
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the complexities of gender equality in Japan, showcasing both progress and ongoing challenges. While the hadaka matsuri's historic inclusion of women is a symbolic victory, it also exposes the underlying issues of gender inequality that persist in the country. The decreasing population has forced a practical shift, but it also sheds light on the need for more substantial reforms to promote gender equality in all aspects of society.
Despite improvements in female representation in leadership positions and workplace policies, Japan still lags behind many other developed countries in terms of gender equality. The underrepresentation of women in politics and management, as well as the prevalence of bias and stereotypes, indicate that there is still much work to be done. The article emphasizes the need for innovative policies, such as quota systems, to accelerate progress and create a more equitable society. It also highlights the importance of addressing the cultural pressures that limit women's opportunities, such as the expectation that they fulfill traditional roles as housewives. By addressing these challenges, Japan can unlock the full potential of its workforce and ensure a more prosperous and inclusive future for all.
