Each spring, in the first week of April, Japan's small town of Kawasaki celebrates 'Kanamara Matsuri', aka the "Festival of the Steel Phallus." Photo courtesy: Tokyodesu.com
Apparently, there's hardly any room to move in the parade and you often have to push your way through all the people and giant penises!
Today, this event attracts tourists from all over the world and spreads awareness on safe sex and HIV.
Over time, people started coming to pray for fertility, long marriages, healthy births and then later on for successful business ventures and a prosperous life.
According to a legend, a sharp-toothed demon hid inside the vagina of a young woman and castrated her husband on their wedding night. The iron penis was forged by a blacksmith to break the demon’s teeth and kill it.
Most of those who come to pray have a common wish being to conceive.
The penis, as the central theme of the event, is reflected everywhere, in illustrations, candies, carved vegetables, and other decorations.
There are penises drawn on faces, penis lollipops, people in penis suits, penis masks and penis t-shirts!
However, there are still those who come to pray.
The modern day incarnation sees thousands of people flock to the temple for a day of quirky fun and festivities.
Tourists suck on penis lollipops, buy penis-themed memorabilia and pose with penis sculptures.
The festival started in the 17th century, when prostitutes prayed for protection from sexually transmitted infections at Kawasaki's Kanamara shrine.
Localites can be seen parading with gigantic phallic-shaped mikoshi (portable Shinto shrines).