
Hadaka Matsuri: Japan's famed Naked Festival canceled for all but a select few
CNN
This time a year ago, thousands gathered for Japan's annual Hadaka Matsuri -- popularly known as the "Naked Festival"-- in Okayama prefecture. The photos and videos of last year's event are a surreal reminder of how much has changed since then.
(CNN) — This time a year ago, thousands gathered for Japan's annual Hadaka Matsuri -- also popularly known as the "Naked Festival"-- in Okayama prefecture in the southern part of Honshu island. In today's climate of social distancing, the video highlights from last year's event (see above) are a surreal reminder of how much has changed since then. Also known as Saidaiji Eyo, Hadaka Matsuri takes place on the third Saturday of February at the Saidaiji Kannonin Temple, about a 30-minute train ride from Okayama city. And this year was no exception.More Related News

The smell of wet grass from the recent atmospheric river rains, mud and gasoline wafts through the warm Southern California air as Alec Derpetrossian works the chainsaw with a foreman, Randy Magaña, who helps him guide where to put the blade. Derpetrossian is still learning how to adequately use the large tool.












