Dating back more than 1,500 years, Japan's rites of spring are deeply rooted in its agricultural past.
As in all the world's ancient cultures, such observances were believed to promote a successful harvest and produce many babies.
It is ironic that Japan's Penis and Vagina Festival is an annual event dating back to ancient times and today that nation has one of the world's lowest birth rates.
The government hopes to ease the financial burden of child-rearing and encourage more children by offering a monthly stipend of $280 per child.
But these annual festivals, which attract many tourists and fill local coffers, offer more encouragement on a visceral level. (weirdasianews.com)
↧