Oh no! Just when you think you’ve seen it all. I stumbled across this entry on a blog called “Japan is Doomed” a great blog for people interested in the goings on in Japan.
I quote: An annual “crying sumo” contest for babies, in which pairs of infants are brought together to see who can cry the first or the loudest, was held at Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple on Sunday.
Apparently, the aim is for the kids to be encouraged to cry, the winner being the child who cries first. If no one cries, then someone runs around with a mask and a funny hat to encourage tears.
Um, I wasn’t there, so I can’t say exactly how terrorized the babies actually are. It’s supposedly fun, but I can’t help thinking that for the little ones who are completely in the control of these big strong adults, it’s probably quite frightening. I just hope these poor adorable children don’t end up needing heavy psychiatric help when they get older.
Heh, I’m not surprised, it being Japan and all. Although public displays of any kind of emotion are quite frowned upon normally. Maybe Japan going through a pop phase now in which people are being told it’s good to cry. One thing about Japan, they all do whatever’s the latest thing en masse.
Aren’t those babies so cute though! I want one.
by MB (Leah) May 26th, 2009 at 10:14 am